Months before a para classification competition, the purpose of which is to determine the level of disability and club athletes with similar impairments together, an Indian athlete folded his arm towards his shoulder and tied it using a plastic cord. It remained in that position for a few weeks. At the classification this para athlete’s hand looked lifeless and weak. Just one example of disability misrepresentation or what is known as classification doping by an Indian para athlete in order to gain an unfair advantage during competition. This athlete was weeded out before he could represent India. Yet others have slipped through only to be caught by World Para Athletics classifiers, officials who decide which class an athlete is eligible for. Vinod Kumar, the bronze medallist in the discus throw in a wheelchair category (F52) at the Tokyo Paralympics was suspended for two years ‘for intentionally misrepresenting his abilities’. Story continues below this ad However, disability misrepresentation is a worldwide phenomenon, the most famous case being of the intellectually disabled Spanish basketball team at the …