IPC performs U-turn as Russian and Belarusian athletes banned from Paralympics

Russian and Belarusian athletes have been banned from the Paralympic Winter Games (Matthew Vincent/PA)

Russian and Belarusian athletes will be banned from the Beijing Winter Paralympics after the International Paralympic Committee reversed its original decision.

The IPC’s announcement on Wednesday that athletes from those countries would be allowed to compete under a neutral flag was met by criticism and the threat of a boycott.