McKillop and Smyth denied chance to defend titles

Double gold medallists Michael McKillop and Jason Smyth have been denied the opportunity to defend their Paralympic titles in Rio.

The IPC announced yesterday that the T13 200m, in which Smyth won gold at the last two Paralympic Games, has been dropped from the 2016 programme.

Similarly, McKillop’s bid to complete the hat-trick of gold medals in the T37 800m has been ended following the removal of the event.