RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Paralympic Games have hit the big time.
There's serious money for a few through performance and sponsorships, and wily ways to get an edge. There are also heated debates about the intricate classification system, levels of impairment and whether athletes are placed in the wrong classes.
If the classification is too high, an athlete may not be able to compete fairly; too low and the athlete could gain an unfair advantage.
And then, of course, there's doping.
"When something is competitive, there are revenues that are linked with that," Peter Van de Vliet, the medical and scientific director of the International Paralympic Committee, told The Associated Press.