The IPC will work closely with each International Federation to implement a pre-Games classification programme, which will be spread across the entire qualification period.

In the past, some athletes have been classified mere days before the event, dramatically reducing their chances of winning a medal.

But the "zero classification" policy will now look to minimise effects of impairments on a relevant sport and will switch the emphasis back to skill, fitness, power and endurance - the same factors that usually decide winning athletes in able-bodied sports.

"The ultimate aim of this policy is to totally eliminate the need to classify any athlete at a Paralympic Games," Dr. Peter Van de Vliet, IPC Scientific and Medical Director, said.

"Last minute decisions are not fair for any of the parties involved, especially the athletes who have trained for years to reach the Games.

"At a Paralympic Games we want all attending athletes to focus 100 per cent on competition and not worry about their classification.

"We hope to achieve this by working with International Federations to increase the number of classification opportunities so that all athletes who might qualify for a Paralympics are seen by classification panels in the final lead-up to the Games and not at the Games themselves."

US swimmer Mallory Weggemann was controversially re-classified before the London 2012 Olympic Games, saying afterwards she had "lost faith" in the Paralympic system ©Getty Images



The new policy will also see only athletes with a certain status - either 'Confirmed' or 'Review and Fixed date 2017' - able to compete at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.

Large progress has been made in recent years to avoid classifying athletes in the lead up to the Games.

At London 2012, just seven per cent of athletes had to be classified at the Games, and this figure was just one athlete at Sochi 2014 compared to 25 per cent at Athens in 2004, but it still created a certain degree of controversy beforehand, with US swimming star Mallory Weggemann among those reclassified. 

Weggemann's compatriot Victoria Arlen was also initially denied the chance to compete against Great Britain's S6 rival Ellie Simmonds in London after it was decided her disability was not severe enough, only for the decision to be overturned on appeal.

"At Sochi 2014 we nearly achieved our aim of having zero classification and hope at future Games to ensure that this is the norm," Van de Vliet added.

"This new policy implies that each International Federation has to take responsibility on the development of a long-term event and classification calendar.

"Only by taking this long-term approach will we achieve our ultimate objective."

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