CPC statement on latest wheelchair basketball athlete eligibility ruling

OTTAWA – The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation has released the next slate of results in their first phase of athlete eligibility assessments involving Canadian athletes. Last month, the IWBF announced the first grouping of classification results as part of their reassessment process, which they are undergoing in order to comply with the International Paralympic Committee’s Athlete Classification Code and remain part of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games program.

For more information on the latest Canadian players’ results, please read Wheelchair Basketball Canada’s statement HERE. 

Statement from Karen O’Neill, CEO, Canadian Paralympic Committee: 

We are pleased and relieved that our two national teams – who qualified for the Tokyo Paralympic Games and have been playing so well in the lead-up to the Games – will now be able to focus and compete in 2021 without this massive cloud over their heads. 

We know how incredibly challenging and draining this entire process, which has been drawn out these past few months, has been for all members of the wheelchair basketball national teams and the community. The well-being of the athletes as individuals should be at the forefront of all procedures, and this has not been the case here. 

This process should be used as an opportunity to improve the system going forward to ensure athletes are not being put into this precarious position one year prior to a major Games. 

Our support remains behind Wheelchair Basketball Canada and the athletes throughout this entire process and moving forward. 

Statement from Tony Walby, Chair, Canadian Paralympic Athletes’ Council: 

To have to deal with all this uncertainty and scrutiny so close to the Paralympic Games should not have happened for any of the athletes, but we are pleased with today’s results. We know how hard our men’s and women’s teams have worked to be among the best in the world and they can now continue to work towards their goals with their typical commitment and dedication.