Para-athlete Vinod Kumar, who won a bronze medal in the discus throw event (F52 category) at the Tokyo Paralympics last August, was suspended for two years. Action was taken against him for knowingly giving false information about his physical disabilities.
Accusing the Indian player of cheating, World Para Athletics said in a statement on its website, “The Board of Appeals of Classification (BAC) has imposed a two-year ban. This will prevent Kumar from competing in para-athletics competitions until August 2023. He also said that his performance in the competition was not in line with his classification performance.
In its statement, the global body said, “World Para Athletics initiates disciplinary proceedings with BAC. Kumar deliberately misrepresented his physical disabilities in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games classification.” Under the World Para Athletics Classification Rules, an athlete willfully misrepresents the degree or nature of his skills or disabilities is a disciplinary offense. Helping him in this is also a disciplinary offence.”
Kumar, who was third at the Tokyo Paralympics behind Piotr Kosewicz (20.02m) and Croatia’s Velimir Sandor (19.98m), had a best throw of 19.91m. The results were reviewed immediately after the match. A day later, the organizers announced the ‘revision’ of the results.
A statement issued by the technical representatives of the Games said that Kumar was found ineligible for the men’s F52 discus medal. The verdict meant that Kumar did not win the medal. Athletes with impaired muscle mass compete in the f52 event. They have limited movement and have deformities in their hands or difference in leg length. Players sit and take part in the competition.