The move follows the re-testing of athletes by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which typically takes place ahead of all major championships, and it is not uncommon for first-time Paralympians to be put into another class.

The news will be a boost for Simmonds, whose 17-year-old American rival was left paralysed in 2006 by a virus which affected her spinal cord.

She came to prominence at the US trials earlier this year when she broke Simmonds' S6 100 metres and 400m freestyle world records but she is now likely to be put in another class.

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is appealing the decision so Arlen faces an anxious wait.

However, Zook (pictured top) and Weggemann have now been reassigned a different class for the Games where both compete against more able-bodied swimmers in London.


It is a particular blow for 22-year-old Weggemann (pictured above), an eight-time world champion and America's biggest gold medal hope at the Paralympics.

She came to Paralympic swimming in 2008 after she lost the use of her legs following a routine epidural for back pain and made her international debut at the IPC World Short Course Championships in Brazil in 2009 where she broke six world records and won five gold medals in the S7 category.

The American was then the most successful swimmer at the 2010 World Championships in Eindhoven as she won eight golds and a silver while setting nine world records in her category.

She was due to swim in seven events in London, but will now compete in five events across the S8, SB7 and SM8 categories.

The news is also a setback for Zook, who is unable to use his right leg.

After winning S10 100m backstroke Paralympic gold in Athens and Beijing, he was reclassified for the S9 class in 2009 and this latest ruling will mean he returns to his old classification.


The US did not comment on Arlen's (pictured above) situation with the appeal on-going, but USOC's head of Paralympics Charlie Huebner admitted he was "disappointed" with the verdicts for Zook and Weggemann.

"We did everything possible to ensure a thorough and fair process, however, we have exhausted all possible avenues for reconsideration and, unfortunately, our appeals were not successful," said Huebner.

"We feel bad for these athletes who have come to London prepared to compete and their families who have travelled here to support them.

"We respect the IPC classification system which is fundamental to Paralympic sport and we will abide by the decisions."

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