Malone in a class of his own

Detractors of Paralympic sport say the one thing that stops it being like “real” sport is the arcane and arbitrary classification system for many of the athletes. Paul Carter reports on one athlete’s battle to be recognised for what he is

It was one of the major controversies that threatened to overshadow last year’s Paralympic Games. The classification of disabled athletes has always been one of the International Paralympic Committee’s most important issues, forming the cornerstone of competition allowing people with wide-ranging impairments to compete equally.

However, at the 2008 games in Beijing, that classification process turned out to be so rigorous, that it resulted in several athletes being reclassified on arrival, while others were sent home altogether, some just days before they were due to begin competing.

Derek Malone, a member of the Ireland cerebral palsy football squad, was one such victim of the process. Malone was adjudged to be “not disabled enough to compete” by the sports governing body, the Cerebral Palsy International Sport & Recreation Association (CPISRA), and was dismissed from the Paralympic Games, and has since missed out
on the International Championships in Holland.

Malone always contested that the fact he was deemed to have too much movement was merely due to hard work and physical conditioning.

Following a lengthy 13-month campaign against the decision by Malone, the Paralympic Council of Ireland (PCI)
and Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland (CPSI), the decision has been overturned, reinstating him to compete.

Malone, who called the last 13 months “the worst of my Paralympic career”, said the decision was bittersweet.

“I have mixed emotions at this moment,” he said. “At the end of 13 months I am delighted I have won my battle to get the decision of ineligibility made by CPISRA at Beijing 2008 overturned. I’ve been reinstated permanently as a CP 8 with immediate effect, a decision which is incontestable.

“My delight is tempered by the fact that CPISRA are unwilling to apologise to me and the Irish team for the proven flawed decision, that ruled me out of the Beijing Games and the subsequent International Championships which are currently underway in Holland.

“I hope that CPISRA can still look within their organisation and find the honesty and sense of decency to admit that I was wronged in Beijing. This will allow me to draw a complete line under the events of Beijing 2008 and move on.”

Secretary General of the Paralympic Council of Ireland, Liam Harbison, was equally angry about the handling of the decision. He said: “I am thrilled that the wrong perpetrated on Derek Malone, and the Irish team as a whole, at the Beijing Paralympic Games by CPISRA has been corrected.

“Having said that, while recognising the process that brought about this week’s reinstatement, this decision should have been made much sooner which would have permitted Derek Malone to compete at the International Championships this week.”

Harbison continued, “I welcome the fact that CPISRA have reviewed their rules and procedures in light of the terrible distress caused in Beijing by Derek’s case, but I do feel they still haven’t addressed one of our core concerns, namely, that the symptoms of cerebral palsy as a condition are trainable and can be developed to a significant degree by elite athletes.

“I hope that CPISRA will continue to review their classification rules, and be more consultative with the athletes and playing nations in doing so.”

Irish Football seven-a-side team manager, Paul Cassin stated: “In my 30 years of involvement with CPISRA, both myself and my players have always treated classification with honesty and endeavour.

“I am delighted with the help of the Paralympic Council of Ireland that we finally have closure on this matter.

“I very much look forward to welcoming Derek Malone back into the Irish Panel and seeing him in the Irish jersey once again.”