World Para Athletics statement on the men’s 100m T12 and 400m T12 at Paris 2024

On the morning of 30 August, World Para Athletics (WPA) was notified of a without notice interim injunction issued by a single judge in the Bonn regional court, requiring the NPC Turkey athlete, Mr Serkan Yildirim, to be entered into the Para athletics men’s 100m T12 and 400m T12 medal events at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. WPA was not provided with notice of the proceedings, or any opportunity to participate in them.

Under both the WPA classification rules and the WPA qualification regulations for Paris 2024 an athlete with a Sport Class Status ‘Review’, such as Mr Yildirim, is not eligible to compete. 

Solely in order to comply with the court order, WPA permitted Mr Yildirim to compete in the men’s 100m T12 event, pending the outcome of WPA’s appeal against the injunction.
 
WPA has now successfully appealed the injunction and the injunction has been lifted by the court with immediate effect.  

The results of Mr Yildirim in the men’s 100m T12 medal event have been disqualified, with all resulting consequences. The medals from the men’s 100m T12 medal event will be reallocated. 

WPA appreciates the patience and professionalism shown by the other teams and athletes affected by these proceedings. 

WPA is unable to provide further substantive comment at this point in time.