Wheelchair basketball highlights evolving classification system for fair play

"Classification has continued to improve, moving from a medical one to functional one, and potentially toward evidence-based classification in the future," Song Yu, head of anti-doping and classification at China Administration of Sports for Persons with Disabilities, said.

"The goal is to provide athletes with a fairer competitive environment and make classification results more impartial, scientific, and accurate," Song said.

In wheelchair basketball, athletes with different conditions can compete together if their functional abilities relevant to the sport are comparable.

"What matters is the function athletes can use in the sport, rather than whether they can stand or have to remain seated," Song said.

Xue Liang, a staff member of China's wheelchair basketball team, said the classification system is designed to give athletes with both more severe and less severe impairments opportunities to contribute.