Russia at the 2016 Summer Paralympics

Disability classifications

Every participant at the Paralympics has their disability grouped into one of five disability categories; amputation, the condition may be congenital or sustained through injury or illness; cerebral palsy; wheelchair athletes, there is often overlap between this and other categories; visual impairment, including blindness; Les autres, any physical disability that does not fall strictly under one of the other categories, for example dwarfism or multiple sclerosis. Each Paralympic sport then has its own classifications, dependent upon the specific physical demands of competition. Events are given a code, made of numbers and letters, describing the type of event and classification of the athletes competing. Some sports, such as athletics, divide athletes by both the category and severity of their disabilities, other sports, for example swimming, group competitors from different categories together, the only separation being based on the severity of the disability.

Disqualification

On 18 July 2016, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) published a 97-page report by Canadian attorney Richard McLaren, covering significant state-sponsored doping in Russia. It found that Russia's Ministry of Sport and Federal Security Service (FSB) had operated a "state-dictated" system to implement an extensive doping program, which included the use of a "disappearing positive methodology" (DPM) – the process of swapping out positive urine samples for clean ones in order to evade detection. The report detailed 27 positive samples tied to Paralympic sports, while the IPC found forensic evidence that the DPM had been used during the 2014 Winter Paralympics.

On 7 August 2016, following the start of the 2016 Summer Olympics, the governing board of the International Paralympic Committee voted unanimously to suspend the Russian Paralympic Committee and ban the entire Russian Paralympic team from participating in the 2016 Summer Paralympics. IPC president Philip Craven cited Russia's "[inability] to ensure compliance with and enforcement of the IPC anti-doping code and the world anti-doping code within their own national jurisdiction", meaning that the country could not "fulfil its fundamental obligation as an IPC member". On 15 August 2016, the RPC filed a request for an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). On 23 August 2016, the CAS upheld the IPC's decision. In a statement, Craven considered the decision to be a "sad day" and a "new beginning" for the Paralympic movement, explaining that the ban would be a "catalyst for change" in the country, and stated that Russia was welcome to return to the Paralympics once it is capable of "fulfilling its obligations to ensure fair competition for all".

The decision to issue a blanket ban contrasts the treatment of Russia's Olympic team, whose athletes were allowed to compete if they were individually cleared by their sport's respective governing body and an International Olympic Committee panel. The IOC's actions were criticized for ignoring WADA's recommendation of a blanket ban. 278 of the 389 members of the team were cleared to compete: the remaining 111 were barred from participating, which included all but one member of the Russian athletics team (Darya Klishina) and the entire Russian weightlifting team due to blanket bans issued by the International Association of Athletics Federations and International Weightlifting Federation.

The IPC decision was criticized by members of the Russian government, who believed that it was politically-motivated. Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko stated that the decision was a "flagrant violation" of the human rights of Russian Paralympians, by punishing the team as a whole and not granting them the right to individually defend themselves like the Olympic team was. Dmitry Svishchev, leader of the parliamentary committee on sport and youth, argued that CAS had shown an "unprecedented impudence and lack of principle", and asked "How is it possible to bar the people who with their courage have earned the right to a proper life from the Games?" During a ceremony honouring Russian athletes returning from the Olympics, President Vladimir Putin described the ban as being "outside the bounds of law, morality and humanity", and announced a plan to hold an alternate event for Russian para-athletes banned from the Games in Rio.

On 30 August 2016, the Russian Paralympic Committee announced that at least 100 members of the banned team had filed for appeals from the IPC; the Committee confirmed it had received these letters, and stated that discussions were "ongoing". The next day, following a request for an appeal by the RPC, the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland also upheld the CAS's decision. On 1 September 2016, the IPC stated that Russian athletes would not be allowed to compete using a neutral flag.

Protests

During the entry of Belarus at the opening ceremony's parade of nations, Andrey Fomochkin—a member of the country's Ministry of Sport, was seen holding a Russian flag as a display of solidarity to its neighbour. The flag was quickly confiscated by officials; after he was identified, Fomochkin's accreditation was revoked by the IPC for violating policies which forbid political protests and gestures. The IPC also warned that it would closely monitor medal presentations involving Belarusian athletes to ensure they do not display political gestures. Fomochkin's actions were praised by Belarusians (including President Alexander Lukashenko), as well as Maria Zakharova—a member of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; she stated to a news agency that Fomochkin had "[shown] solidarity with people who were disgracefully treated in an inhumane way in not being allowed to compete at the Paralympics".

In response to the ban, the Russian Paralympic Committee organized an alternative event known as the All-Russian Open Paralympic Competition, in which 263 Russian athletes competed in seven Paralympic sports. Exhibition events were held in the remaining 11 sports, in which athletes demonstrated their respective sports and took questions from attendees. Those who won medals during this event were to receive the same rewards they would have won had they medalled in Rio.

5-a-side football

Russia qualified for the Paralympics after finishing second at the 2015 IBSA Blind Football European Championships. Playing in Group B, Russia opened the tournament with a 1–0 victory against France, followed by two 0–0 draws against Belgium and Spain. With a 1–0 victory against Greece in their final group stage match, Russia finished second in its group. In the elimination round, Russia played against Group A winner England. Russia won 1–0 on penalty kicks, but lost to Turkey 1–0 in the gold medal match.

7-a-side football

The Russia national 7-a-side football team qualified for Rio 2016 after winning the 2015 CP World Championships, defeating reigning European champions Ukraine. They went into the competition as the top ranked team in the world. The team was in Group B with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Germany.

The draw for the tournament was held on 6 May at the 2016 Pre Paralympic Tournament in Salou, Spain. Russia was put into Group B with the United States, Netherlands and Argentina. Iran qualified for the 2016 Rio Games following the suspension of Russia. The IPC ruled that there could not be a redraw for the groups. This resulted in Iran being put into Group A with the Netherlands, Argentina and the United States.

Going into the Paralympics, Russia was ranked second in the world.

Athletics

Russia had qualified a number of athletes in track and field. Following the suspension, two of these spots were re-allocated to Australia.

Archery

Russia qualified ten archers as a result of their performance at the 2015 World Archery Para Championships. They included one spot each in the men's and women's compound open, three spots each in the men's and women's recurve open, and one spot each in the men's and women's W1. Among the archers that had qualified included Bato Tsydendorzhiev, Margarita Sidorenko, Svetlana Barantseva, Irina Rossiyskaya, Sergey Khutakov, Anton Zaypaev and Stepanida Artakhinova.

Cycling

Being among the highest-ranked countries on the men's and women's UCI Para-Cycling Nations Ranking Lists as of 31 December 2014, Russia qualified for Rio 2016, assuming they continued to meet all other eligibility requirements.

Equestrian

Russian riders had qualified to participate in the individual event. Following their suspension, their spot was re-allocated.

Goalball

The Russia women's national goalball team qualified for Rio 2016 after finishing second at the 2014 IBSA Goalball World Championships. Their spot was re-allocated to Australia.

Judo

With one pathway for qualification being a top finish at the 2014 IBSA Judo World Championships, judoka Abdula Kuramagomedov had qualified for Rio by finishing first in the Men's B2 100 kg.

Paracanoeing

Russia earned a qualifying spot in the inaugural Paracanoeing competition following their performance at the 2015 ICF Canoe Sprint & Paracanoe World Championships in Milan, Italy, where the top six finishers in each Paralympic event earned a qualifying spot for their nation. Alexandra Dupik earned the spot for Russia after finishing fourth in the women's KL1 event. Nadezda Andreeva earned a second spot for Ukraine after finishing fifth in the women's KL2 event. Leonid Krylov earned a third spot for Russia after finishing third in the men's KL3 event.

Rowing

One pathway for qualification at the 2015 FISA World Rowing Championships was a top-eight finish in a medal event. Russia qualified in the AS Men's Single Sculls event with a fourth-place finish with a time of 04:56.780.

Shooting

The first opportunity to qualify for shooting in Rio took place at the 2014 IPC Shooting World Championships in Suhl. Shooters earned spots for their NPC. Russia earned a qualifying spot at this event in the P1 – 10m Air Pistol Men SH1 event as a result of Sergey Malyshev winning a silver medal. Valeriy Ponomarenko earned a second spot in the same event for Russia. Tatiana Ryabchenko gave Russia a third spot for Rio, this one in the R6 – 50m Rifle Prone Mixed SH1 event. Sergey Nochevnoy gave Russia their fourth spot at Rio, this time in the R3 – 10Mm Air Rifle Prone Mixed SH1 event.

Three opportunities to qualify were available through the 2015 IPC Shooting World Cup events in Osijek, Sydney, and Fort Benning. In Osijek, Antonina Zhukova qualified in the R5 – 10m Air Rifle Prone Mixed SH2 event. In Sydney, Nikolai Krygin qualified in the R5 - Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH2 event. At Fort Benning, Natalia Dalekova qualified in the P4 Mixed 50m Pistol event and Andrey Kozhemyakin qualified in the R7 Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions event.

Swimming

The top two finishers in each Rio medal event at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships earned a qualifying spot for their country. Denis Tarasov earned Russia a spot after winning gold in the Men's 100m Butterfly S8. Alexander Makarov earned Russia another spot after winning silver in the Men's 200m Freestyle S3. Roman Zhdanov earned Russia a third spot after winning silver in the Men's 200m Freestyle S4. Andrei Granichka earned Russia a fourth spot after winning silver in the Men's 400m Freestyle S6. The fifth spot for Russia was earned by Valeriia Shabalina who won silver in the Women's 100m Breaststroke SB14. The sixth spot was earned by Ani Palian who won silver in the Women's 100m Freestyle S7. Anna Krivshina grabbed a seventh spot for Russia after winning gold in the Women's 50m Freestyle S13. Dmitrii Kokarev earned the country's eighth spot after winning silver in the Men's 100m Backstroke S2. Iurii Luchkin earned Russia´s ninth spot in the Men's 100m Breaststroke SB5 with a gold medal finish.

Wheelchair tennis

Russia had qualified two players in the women's singles event, Ludmila Bubnova and Viktoriia Lvova. Following their suspension, one spot was re-allocated by the IPC to Shelby Baron of the United States. Another spot was re-allocated to Australia.