ID athletes were expected to be reintroduced to the London 2012 Paralympic programme in the sports of rowing, athletics, swimming and table tennis after the IPC voted last November to readmit them back into the Games having banned them after the Sydney Games in 2000.

However, as insideworldparasport revealed exclusively yesterday, rowing’s world governing body FISA announced that they would not take up the IPC’s offer to have ID athletes compete in the sport at the 2012 Paralympics following three separate meetings held by its ruling Council.

FISA claimed they feared including ID athletes at the Games would undermine the standard of the rest of the regatta.

The news is a blow to the IPC as well as ParalympicsGB who were staunch supports of the re-inclusion of ID athletes following their ban in 2000 but both organisations said they respect the decision taken by FISA despite remaining committed to seeing ID athletes compete in rowing at future Games.

An IPC spokesman told insideworldparasport: "Such decision, which FISA just took, lies with the International Federation that governs the sport so we respect the decision taken.

"This is also in accordance with the motion that was passed by the IPC General Assembly last November.

"Nonetheless, the IPC will continue to work with FISA on the development of a sport-specific classification system that meets the IPC Classification Code requirements [direct relationship between impairment and activities needed in rowing].”

ParalympicsGB added: "The British Paralympic Association (BPA)  respects the decision taken by FISA as the International Federation for Rowing.

"It is important that the Paralympic Games remain the pinnacle of elite sporting competition. 

"FISA’s decision, given the current level of preparedness of ID rowers across many nations, supports this.

"We welcome their reassurance that they remain committed to including athletes with an intellectual disability within the sport of rowing, as we remain committed to their re-inclusion subject to robust classification systems."

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