American Paralympic Champion Victoria Arlen Banned From World Championships

[GM_Tood]

MONTREAL, Canada, August 12. THE International Paralympic Committee's world swimming championships begins today in Montreal, and the American contingent will not feature one of its top stars from last year's Paralympics.

 

On Sunday, Victoria Arlen was banned from competing in this year's world championships because the IPC believes Arlen's paralysis sustained after contracting a rare viral disease in 2006 has the chance to be cured, and thus, not be a permanent disability. That, in the eyes of the IPC, is grounds for excluding Arlen from competition this year -- and possibly for future meets.

 

http://www.swimmingw...d-Championships

 

 

 

I find this ruling, especially less than a week from the competition, heartbreaking. How can you say that a person who has a chance to be 'cured' is ineligible to compete? Everyone has a chance to have thier paralysis cured, no? Modern medicine advancements have shown that some incredible things can happen.

 

I feel sorry for Victoria, and hope for her the best in getting the ruling reversed.

[knapplc]

That's a stupid decision. SMH

[StPaulHusker]

So how much of a chance of curing does there need to be to be ruled ineligible? This has to be one of the dumbest rules I have ever seen.