In line with the IPC decision to suspend membership of the Russian Paralympic Committee and the CAS decision to dismiss the Russian appeal, World ParaVolley has no alternative but to confirm Russia are no longer eligible to participate in the Rio 2016 Sitting Volleyball competitions for men and women.

Following a request from IPC to name possible replacements if Russia were not eligible, the Board of World ParaVolley decided that the Russian teams should be replaced by the two teams that placed second to Russia in the final qualification event, the 2016 Intercontinental, those teams being Netherlands (women) and Ukraine (men).  Following the CAS decision, because Broadcasting Rights and the Paralympic Results and Information Service (PRIS) are already in place, the Netherlands and Ukraine teams will take the same place in the respective pools that were previously occupied by the Russian teams.

World ParaVolley has been working with the IPC, the Rio Organising Committee and the Netherlands and Ukraine teams to ensure there would be a full complement of teams in the Rio Paralympic Games Sitting Volleyball Competition if Russia were not permitted to participate. IPC have reallocated all Russian athlete slots to sports on the Rio programme.

Barry Couzner OAM
President

Denis Le Breuilly
Sport Director