Paralympics: Spanish launch inquiry into selection allegations

12:00 PM

MADRID - The Spanish Paralympic Committee (CPE) is to open a formal inquiry into allegations by a gold medallist that athletes with no mental handicap were selected for the Sydney games to boost the team's medal tally.

Carlos Ribagorda, a journalist and member of Spain's victorious basketball team at last month's Sydney Paralympics, has said that he and nine teammates were not subjected to any medical or psychological tests to check their eligibilty.

Ribagorda claimed he played for the Spanish Paralympic basketball team for over two years but had no mental handicap.

The CPE has decided the inquiry will cover all participants selected by the Spanish Federation for Mentally Handicapped Sports (FEDDI).

The investigation will aim to determine if the degree of handicap of the Spanish paralympic sportsmen met international guidelines governing the Paralympics.

CPE president Jose Maria Arroyo said the opening of the investigation was not a presumption of guilt, but that if the accusations were proved the heaviest possible punishments would follow.

``It is a shame that our success might be stained by the irregular action of a few sportsmen or people, and so our aim is for a full and thorough investigation into the claims,'' Arroyo told reporters.

The Games were Spain's most successful Paralympics ever. They won 107 medals and finished third in the medals table behind Australia and Britain.

- REUTERS

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