Deminor backs Paralympian's Lawsuit Against International Paralympic Committee

Deminor is backing Brazilian Para swimmer André Brasil in a ground-breaking lawsuit against the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). In 2019, Mr Brasil — a decorated Paralympic Athlete with a sporting career spanning over 16 years — was reclassified as ineligible to compete in Paralympic sport following a 2018 revision of the classification system by World Para Swimming (WPS).

Mr Brasil and the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CBP) initiated legal proceedings against the IPC before a German state court, arguing that the classification process in Paralympic sport is fundamentally flawed and violates human rights as well as German and European antitrust laws.

The first-instance Cologne Regional Court initially sided with the IPC, finding that it had the right to change its rules. Mr Brasil appealed before the Düsseldorf Court of Appeal, which overturned the first-instance decision, holding that the IPC had an obligation to grant Mr Brasil a sufficient grace period in order to prepare him for the rule change and his potential ineligibility.

The IPC has sought permission to appeal before the Federal Court of Justice.

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