Paralympics: Kiwis deny protest against athlete

New Zealand Paralympics team chef de mission Cathy Hemsworth has denied New Zealand were involved in a controversy in Athens surrounding the extent of an Australian player's disability.

Ryley Batt who, at 15, is Australia's youngest Paralympian - was born without legs and has only five fingers, three on one hand and two on the other.

He arrived in Athens with one disability classification only to be reclassified - which effectively denies him court time, undermining Australia's gold medal chances in wheelchair rugby.

Australia and New Zealand clashed in group A overnight with the winner earning a smoother path to the podium.

The Australian Paralympic Committee plans an appeal - amid rumours that a rival country protested at the teenager's disability to hinder Australia's chances.

"I am shocked. I don't know what they are doing over there," his mother, Chris Cool, told the Sun-Herald newspaper.

"He has been very unfairly reclassified. He is very upset about it, we all are."

In wheelchair rugby, players are classified from 0.5 - most disabled - to 3.5 (least disabled).

Each team fields four players and, at any one time, the value of players on the court may not exceed eight points.

The Sun-Herald said the International Paralympic Committee's decision to reclassify Ryley from a 2.5 to the maximum 3.5 means he will not spend as much time on the court, especially as team-mate Brad Dubberley is already a 3.5.

The reclassification means Australia have had to rethink their playing combination ahead of the match-up with their arch-rivals.

If Batt is given any court time in that match, the IPC will watch him to see if his mobility and skill warrant the 3.5 classification or if he should revert to a 2.5. If he stays at 3.5, the APC will launch a formal appeal.

Ryley's mentor, Tom Kennedy said he did not know who had lodged the protest but the motive was clear.

"Ryley is our strongest player and he looks so good on the court. Obviously another team isn't keen on him playing."

APC spokesman Graham Cassidy acknowledged there was widespread speculation about which country had protested at Ryley's classification - with New Zealand prominent - but while such speculation was "understandable" it was "only rumour".

However, Hemsworth said last night New Zealand had not lodged a protest.

- NZPA