By Nick Butler

Danielle Brown has launched an appeal following her exclusion from future Paralympic Games ©Getty ImagesDecember 10 - Two time Paralympic gold medal winning archer Danielle Brown has appealed against the decision to bar her from future Games following classification changes which deem her ineligible from future competitions.


Brown won compound gold medals at both the Beijing 2008 and the London 2012 Games but, unless her appeal is successful, she will be unable to defend her title at Rio 2016. 

The 25-year-old has complex regional pain syndrome, giving her "chronic discomfort" in her feet, and she therefore shoots while seated on a stool.

But, following the 2013 World Championships in Bangkok, World Archery ruled that only those with a physical disability which has a "direct and important impact on the archery performance" should be allowed to compete in major Championships. 

The new rules will come into operation next month and will impact a number of top Paralympic archers.

World Archery launched an appeals process last month, as well as opportunities for re-classification, and highlighted that should an appeal be unsuccessful, the respective national federation will be charged 120 CHF ($132/£81/€98).

Danielle Brown was awarded an MBE for her achievements at London 2012...and is appealing for a chance to continue these achievements at Rio ©Getty ImagesDanielle Brown was awarded an MBE for her achievements at London 2012...and is appealing for a chance to continue these achievements at Rio ©Getty Images





Brown is the most high-profile athlete affected and claimed her "disability affects my life in every way" and that "archery is the one thing" that has kept her going.

"It is extremely difficult to hear that the classifiers believe my disability doesn't impact my sport as it impacts every part of my life, including archery," she said. 

"Archery GB has been very supportive and is 100 per cent in support of my decision to protest the decision.

"We are in the process of arranging for a reclassification to take place at the Archery GB Performance Centre at Lilleshall in the near future."

This support for Brown was underlined by Archery GB's performance director Sara Symington.

"We were extremely saddened when Danielle Brown was not classified under the new criteria," she said.

"However, we are in complete support of the protest and will be supporting her every step of the way." 

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November 27: World Archery launch appeals process after competitors ruled out of Paralympics by classification changes 
November 2013: British archer unable to defend Paralympic title at Rio 2016 after classification change