UAE Paralympian heroes Mohammed Hammadi and Thuraya Al Zaabi have claimed they suffered unfair circumstances during competition at the London Games.

Sprinter Hammadi, who won a silver and bronze in the 200m-T34 and 100m-T34 respectively, said there were problems with athlete classification in his races, while Al Zaabi, who holds the Asian record in women’s shot put-F34, accused judges of costing her a new mark by making technical errors.

“Some people were admitted into classes where they shouldn’t have been allowed to compete,” Hammadi told Sport360°.

The 27-year-old from Sharjah says Walid Ktila, who won the gold in both his races, is much stronger than the other competitors in the T-34 class and that his disability is less limiting.

Hammadi added: “I can’t speak for other classes but in my class, there is one competitor who was admitted in the T-34, but he is much stronger than that class – Walid Ktila.

"There’s a massive difference between his disability and our disability and all the other competitors could see it too. He would take the gold in that class even if he has never trained a day in his life.”

The Emirati said he tried to complain about this issue. “In London it was very difficult to make a complaint and they told us they would look into it after the Games were over,” he said. “But I’m not holding my breath. In Rio, whether Ktila is there or not I will get the gold.”

Meanwhile, Al Zaabi says the judges in the shot put competition didn’t allow her to tie her legs in a specific way that helps her throw the way she’s accustomed to – and called it a “technical mistake”.

She added: “It was a tough competition but I was up for it. “Unfortunately the judges at the Olympic Stadium had a negative effect on my results. I am the Asian record holder and I know what I’m capable of achieving, but the jud-ges made technical mistakes.

“They didn’t allow me to tie my legs in the right way and position so I can throw the shot put properly to be able to set a new Asian record. That really saddened me, but it won’t stop me from achieving what’s yet to come.”

The International Paralympic Committee would not comment on the claims as their Athletics manager nor Medical and Scientific Director had not heard about the case.

Al Zaabi, Hammadi and Abdulla Sultan Al Aryani, who won gold in shooting, arrived back in Dubai on Tuesday and she added: “This reception has really warmed my heart and I will continue to train. Of course my sights are already set on Brazil. Why not?”

 

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