British authorities believe a decision to allow Russian athletes to compete at the Paralympic Games next year “does not align” with the values of the movement and have called for stronger measures to prevent individuals from entering into competition. In a decision that appeared to confirm a trend of softening sporting sanctions against Russia, members of the International Paralympic Committee voted on Friday to overturn a total suspension on Russian participation. Reversing a ban enforced ahead of the Paralympic Winter Games last year, athletes will be able to compete as “neutral” individuals in Paris, with all participation in team sports continuing to be blocked. Speaking after the decision was confirmed, the CEO of ParalympicsGB, David Clarke, said he was “disappointed” by the news. “Given the ongoing horror of the war in Ukraine, ParalympicsGB voted for the continued suspension of the Russian National Paralympic Committee,” he said. “We are therefore disappointed that the decision was taken to allow Russian nationals to compete as neutral athletes at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games … as we believe this decision does not align with the values of the Paralympic movement. “However, given athletes and staff will only be able to attend if they meet the criteria set out by the IPC Governing Board we would urge them to ensure that individual athletes that have broken the IPC’s code of conduct, by stating their support for the war, are banned from competing at Paris 2024. We wish to continue to express our solidarity with the people of Ukraine and our friends at NPC Ukraine.” Under the IPC’s code of conduct athletes are expected to uphold the “Paralympic ethos” which, as part of the IPC constitution, includes a commitment to “respect the principle of political neutrality and impartiality”. The IPC decision was also criticised by the organisation Global Athlete which counts British Paralympic power lifter Ali Jawad as a member of its board. “Today’s decision lacks reason and principle,” said Rob Koehler, director general of Global Athlete. “The fact that the IPC removed a ban when Russia’s aggression on Ukraine has only increased, is contradictory and aligns them to the wrong side of history in this war. As we have seen in the past, regardless of whether flags, anthems, or national colours are stripped away Putin will use every ounce of his athletes’ participation to justify the war and death toll he has inflicted on the peaceful nation of Ukraine.” In effect the decision taken at the general assembly in Bahrain restores the status quo of the 2021 games in Tokyo, where Russian athletes were forced to compete as neutrals due to the country’s systemic violation of doping rules. The “RPC” went on to finish fourth in the medal table. On Friday the IPC described the decision taken by its members as a “partial suspension”, one incurred because of Russia’s contravention of regulations that commit the Paralympic movement to “fair play” and being a place where “violence is banned”. The full ban was overturned 74 votes to 65, with 13 abstentions. The total number of votes, 152, was an increase on the 119 cast to enforce the ban last year, with the IPC having expanded its membership in the intervening time. The news came in the same week as European football’s governing body, Uefa, partially reversed a ban on Russian competition. On Tuesday, its executive committee voted behind closed doors to end a blanket ban on Russian teams by allowing the country’s under-17 sides into its competitions from this season. The International Olympic Committee is due to meet in two weeks’ time to discuss Russia’s and Belarus’s participation at the Paris 2024 Olympics.