Two and a half years later: Russian athletes were allowed to perform at the Paralympic Games under their own flag.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced that the membership of the Russian Paralympic Committee (PCR) will be conditionally restored from March 15, 2019. Russian Paralympians will be able to compete in international competitions under their own flag, including taking part in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 and in Beijing in 2022.

The dismissal of the PKP lasted almost two and a half years. It came into force in August 2016 after the publication of the first part of Richard McLaren's report on doping in Russian sports, which is why Russian athletes could not compete at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. In November of the same year, the IPC presented the RCC 70 with conditions for recovery, and after a while allowed individual Paralympians to participate in competitions under a neutral flag.

IPC head Andrew Parsons stated at a specially convened press conference that the restoration work group recognized 69 criteria for Russia to be fulfilled. According to him, the only thing that remains unfulfilled is the requirement to recognize the conclusions of the McLaren report, which claimed that there is a state-sponsored doping support program in the Russian Federation. However, the IPC decided that this condition can be omitted and allow athletes to compete on an equal footing with the whole world.

“PKR has proved that it has become a completely different organization compared to 2016. Russian athletes are and will be among the most tested for doping in the Paralympic movement. Under the supervision of WADA, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) was rebuilt from scratch and returned to testing ... We need to move on and look for solutions to preserve the integrity of the Paralympic sport, recognize significant reforms in the PCR and allow it to fulfill its obligations ", - said Parsons at the press conference.

The IPC President listed the important changes that allowed the RCC to regain its membership in the international Paralympic movement. These are the creation of a sustainable system for testing for doping under the control of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the introduction of a new anti-doping education program for athletes and coaches, the lack of government officials in managing the RCC, the creation of a “hot line” for informers about doping, the restoration of RUSADA and the payment of all time cost of removal.

Restoration of CRP is called conditional. This means that the organization must continue to fulfill a number of requirements in order not to be re-suspended. Detailed criteria will be formulated by March 15, 2019. However, the IPC has already named some of them: Russian athletes must undergo extensive doping testing, RCC must conduct their activities in accordance with WADA requirements and comply with the World Anti-Doping Code, the work of anti-doping organizations in Russia should not be under someone’s influence RUSADA is obliged to continue to carry out its activities in full. Parsons called these requirements a substitute for the recognition of the McLaren report.

In the IPC, it is assumed that foreign athletes may criticize the restoration of RCC in rights. They should treat this decision with understanding, I am sure Chelsea Gotell, the chairman of the IPC athletes council, is sure.

“Some may disagree with the fact that the IPC has changed its initial criteria. However, it is important for Paralympic athletes to recognize the progress of RPC achieved since August 2016, ”said Gotell.

The Paralympic Committee of Russia welcomed the decision adopted by the IPC, but at the same time called it a belated and unconditional. Nevertheless, athletes will now be able to calmly prepare for the next Paralympic Games in Tokyo, noted in the RCC.

“As the saying goes, better late than never. The “post-restoration” criteria contained in the IPC statement seem to us to be generally acceptable, ”the organization’s press office said.

The PCR also noted that many athletes will have to re-pass the international functional classification and participate in rating competitions in order to qualify for the Paralympics-2020.

Now the only Russian organization whose athletes cannot perform on the international arena under the Russian flag is the All-Russian Athletics Federation. She is still suspended by the International Association of Athletics Federations, despite the restoration of RUSADA. At the same time, at the Olympic Games, Russian athletes will be able to represent their country without performing under neutral status.