IN the light of recent sporting doping scandals a parliamentary select committee is now looking into Paralympic classification as part of a wider inquiry into sport governance.

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee (DCMS), which met last October, is looking at cheating claims in Paralympic sports and heard ‘explosive’evidence from Michael Breen – the father of Liphook’s sprint queen and Paralympic medalist Olivia.

Michael, an expert in sports law, gave evidence at the meeting, raising serious issues regarding classifications – which, according to him, are no longer fit for purpose, making it too easy for athletes and national teams to cheat the system.

In an exclusive interview he told The Herald this week: “I consider myself the spokesperson for athletes parents and coaches and am campaigning for classification with integrity.

“UK Sport sets Gold medal targets and funds the Team GB Paralympic body which is responsible for classifying athletes nationally. But national classification by UK Sport is not a very robust system. I believe the International Paralympic Ccommittee need to completely reclassify across the world selection for T38 track and field.

“The problem IPC currently has with UK Athletics is every class presents a fundamental conflict of interest – by giving classification selections to the same people who are responsible for Gold targets.

“There needs to be an independent body – and a compulsory requirement for a medical professional to be on the classification panel – and I am looking to get it changed.”

During last October’s DCMS committee hearing, Mr Breen named Sophie Hahn as an athlete he claimed has benefited from being wrongly classified, running against other athletes who have more severe disabilities, including his daughter Olivia, who has competed against Sophie in the T38 sprint.

Hahn, who like Olivia has cerebral palsy, is a five-time world champion in T38 100m and 200m.

She was shocked to have been named, stating her success was due to her work ethic, dedication, natural talent, focus and not wrong classification. The IPC declined to attend the October hearing and is due to review its rules and several athletes – with Hahn among them, which will potentially see changes to their classification in 2018.

Olivia has already travelled to Australia where she is due to take part in the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, in Queensland, for Team Wales, which take place from April 4-15.

Ranked number one in the T38 category, she will compete in the women’s T38 100m as well as the women’s T38 long jump.

Her father admits the IPC have acknowledged the problem and agreed to re-classify everyone.

“But it is pointless if they use the same volunteers for the classifications as before,” he said.

“It is a fact that people cheat in sport and can deliberately cheat the system.

“We need to give sport back its integrity - it is no longer appropriate to carry on with the current system of classification.

“It needs to be wholly subjective and is at present a fundamental problem.

“Classification should be done by professionals – it should be compulsory to have a doctor present to oversee all medical records, as well as a physiotherapist and coach.

“This is not done at the moment and international classification can be done in Britain, which can give some athletes an advantage.

“Changes need to be made so people can see what is real and what is fake.

“There is a lot going on in Paralympic sport, with coaches threatening and intimidating athletes to get Gold medals.

“But I strongly believe changes can be made before the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.”

“Paralympic sport is easy to cheat – as long as you are clever about it at the outset.

“Athletes can cheat at the level of selection – if they misrepresent themselves. Currently they have to perform a test and if they don’t try very hard athletes are classified as being more disabled – even if they are not as disabled as other competitors.

“It is all about performance and winning and about not losing funding, sponsorship or television coverage.

“With the Lottery funding for UK Sport at around £350 million, it is not surprising it is based on getting medals.

“If you want the money you have got to win medals.

“Why do I feel so strongly about it?

“If people are allowed to cheat, sport is no longer safe, it is only a question of time. I am keen to protect the sport for the future.

“London 2012 brought the Paralympics to the forefront – but mainly only in the UK where major sponsors can support the events which can fill a large stadium. But after that Paralympics are a long way down the list in other countries - where the events only attract sports organisations, family and friends.”