The IPC is splitting T42 athletes between two separate classifications for the Paralympic Games in three years time, claiming there is not enough depth of talent in the double-leg amputee classifications to warrant maintaining all of the events.

Whitehead, who will only be able to aim for the defence of his 200m Paralympic title at Tokyo 2020, was speaking after finishing third in the 100m event here at the World Para Athletics Championships.

"There isn't a 100m event in Tokyo, there's only a 200m for myself and [fellow Briton] Dave Henson and that's because the IPC are trying to shrink the programme," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It’s ******* - for me, it's about performance inclusion, offering opportunities for performance, not actually restricting the programme.

"I think it's a backwards step for the IPC.

"I think it's a backwards step for performance sport and hopefully they will do a U-turn on that decision especially after today."

Winning gold in the 100m event was Whitehead's Australian rival Scott Reardon, a single-leg amputee who the Briton claims has campaigned against his inclusion.

"Paralympic sport needs to be inclusive," Whitehead, who claimed a fourth consecutive 200m T42 world title on Saturday (July 15), was reported as saying by The Guardian.

"It needs to be there for creating challenges within performance and not isolating individuals.

"I will only have 200m to run in Tokyo if I continue, which is ridiculous.

"I am more impaired than the single-leg amputees, but they are asking me to run double the distance as the single-leg amputees to be at the Paralympic Games."

"In Tokyo, Scott Reardon will run in the 100m.

"The double-leg amputees will have to run the 200m.

"All my life I have been fighting against the system.

"I wanted to run the marathon but they wouldn't let me.

"I wanted to run the 400m but that wasn't acceptable.

"They need to support performances and create challenges for athletes - not put up barriers in the athletes' way."

The IPC has denied Whitehead’s claims and insisted that separating the single and double-leg amputee sprint classes will make for better competition and depth within Para-sprinting.

"We talk to countries, not individuals, and if Mr Whitehead has complaints, he can appeal through his national committee," an IPC spokesman said.

Whitehead fiercely criticised Reardon following their battle for the 100m gold medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, further stoking the fire between the two rivals. 

The Briton retained his 200m title but was forced to settle for silver over half that distance, finishing in a dead heat with Denmark’s Daniel Wagner in a race won by Reardon.

Speaking at SPORTELMonaco, Whitehead did not hold back in his assessment of Reardon, admitting his dislike of the Australian provides the perfect motivation to continue his long career on the track.

Whitehead also accused Reardon of having a selfish attitude and not doing enough for the development and promotion of the Paralympic Movement, while laying down the gauntlet for another duel at these World Championships by claiming the Australian was "on a downward spiral".

Speaking here, he said he has seen e-mails from Reardon and the Australian authorities that have looked at the reason why he shouldn’t be involved in the 100m at the Paralympics, suggesting it would be dangerous.

"Scott Reardon is a great athlete," Whitehead told the The Guardian.

"As a person he is someone who wants to provide himself with the best opportunity for success.

"That’s not me saying it bitterly, it’s me saying it truthfully.

"I lay my heart on the line.

"I am 41-years-old on Wednesday (July 19)

"As a bilateral amputee, age is against me, but I feel I can be competitive.

"I needed 107m and I would have been on the line with him. 

"We want the 100m and 200m in Tokyo.

"The IPC need to not take it out of the programme.

"I have seen e-mails from Scott and the Australian authorities and they think there is a danger involved, which is ridiculous."

"They say we could clip the other athletes.

"It’s never happened with me.

"I race in mainstream athletics, day in, day out.

"You are playing with people’s careers.

"We aren’t playing here, we are pro athletes and need to be treated like it."

Reardon secured his third consecutive 100m world title with a time of 12.21sec.

Wagner won silver in a season’s best 12.30 with Whitehead clinching bronze in 12.39.

"That is probably the best moment of my career," Reardon, who won silver here at the London 2012 Paralympics, said.

"The pressure was on - there’s been a fair bit of talk going on since Rio and I’ve tried to keep my head down and keep out of it.

"But I think I’ve just shown that the future is strong.

"I’m very satisfied to win.

"It’s the icing on the cake.

"To win silver here in 2012 was awesome, so to win gold here now is even better."