RUSSIAN and Belarusian athletes will be banned from the Beijing Winter Paralympics after a U-turn from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), while Formula One is pulling out of Russia entirely, it was reported today.

This year’s race, due to take place in Sochi on September 25, was dropped from the calendar last week, but F1’s contract with its Russia promoter has now been cancelled following the invasion of Ukraine.

The IPC has been forced into a swift reversal of its policy after the announcement yesterday that athletes from Russia and Belarus would be allowed to compete under a neutral flag was met by criticism and the threat of a boycott.

The organisation has acknowledged the decision could open it up to a legal challenge — and Russia has indicated it is considering such action — but felt the strength of opinion on the matter left it with no alternative.

In a statement this morning, IPC president Andrew Parsons said: “In taking our decision yesterday, we were looking at the long-term health and survival of the Paralympic movement.

“We are fiercely proud of the principles and values that have made the movement what it is today.

“However, what is clear is that the rapidly escalating situation has now put us in a unique and impossible position so close to the start of the Games. Yesterday we said we would continue to listen, and that is what we are doing.”

Parsons said 83 athletes would now be unable to compete, but the decision was taken because of the threat of widespread withdrawals from other countries as well as concerns about safety.

The situation in the athletes village, Parsons said, had “become untenable.”

He said: “In the last 12 hours, an overwhelming number of members have been in touch with us and been very open, for which I am grateful.

“They have told us that, if we do not reconsider our decision, it is now likely to have grave consequences for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.

“Multiple NPCs [National Paralympic Committees], some of which have been contacted by their governments, teams and athletes, are threatening not to compete.

“Ensuring the safety and security of athletes is of paramount importance to us and the situation in the athlete villages is escalating and has now become untenable.”

The Russian Paralympic Committee has condemned the IPC’s decision as “illegal” and suggested formal action could follow.

A statement read: “The Russian Paralympic Committee believes that the International Paralympic Committee’s decision of March 3 2022 is completely unfounded, as it clearly contradicts one of the basic principles of the Paralympic family — the apolitical nature of sport for the disabled.

“In accordance with this decision the RPC and Russian Para athletes appear as the perpetrators of the current political conflicts.

“Meanwhile, not only they have not done anything that in any way can be interpreted as participation in the current political complications, but, on the contrary, in full compliance with the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS], they removed from the governing bodies of the RPC persons who had any connection to the political structures.

“In this regard, the RPC considers the IPC’s decision illegal and reserves the right to defend the rights and interests of Russian Para athletes in sports and other judicial instances.”

Parsons apologised to athletes from Russia and Belarus, saying: “To the Para athletes from the impacted countries, we are very sorry that you are affected by the decisions your governments took last week in breaching the Olympic Truce. You are victims of your governments’ actions.

“I hope and pray that we can get back to a situation when the talk and focus is fully on the power of sport to transform the lives of persons with disabilities, and the best of humanity.”

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has said the British government plans to create a European coalition with the aim of putting pressure on Russia.

The DCMS said the coalition’s goals include stripping Russia and Belarus of hosting rights for international sporting events and banning their teams and athletes from international competition.