Tag Archives: deaf

MPs Back Call for Deaflympics Funding Parity Following #FairPlayForDeafAthletes Campaign

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Following the success of British athletes at the Tokyo Deaflympics, MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee have formally recommended that the Government fund elite Deaf sport and recognise the Deaflympics on the same basis as the Olympics and Paralympics.

While this does not yet represent full Parliamentary backing, it is a significant step forward for UK Deaf Sport’s #FairPlayForDeafAthletes campaign.

At Two Big Ears, we welcome this intervention — and we are clear about what must come next.

Deaflympians excluded from public funding

In its letter to the Secretary of State, the Committee states:

“Elite deaf athletes in the UK are the only disabled elite sports group that has no access to public funding whatsoever.”

Despite competing at the highest international level, Deaflympians:

  • Receive no UK Sport funding
  • Have no lottery-backed performance pathway
  • Must self-fund training, coaching, travel, physio and kit

This exclusion is not accidental. It is a long-standing policy gap.

Deaflympics recognised as part of the Olympic family

The Committee also makes clear that Deaf sport is already part of the recognised elite system:

“The Deaflympics [are] part of the Olympic family and the only games in which there is a classification for deaf people.”

This directly challenges the idea that Deaflympians sit outside elite sport structures.

Tokyo Deaflympics: success despite the system

MPs highlighted the reality faced by Deaf athletes preparing for Tokyo:

“To take part, our deaf athletes have to continuously raise money for training fees, travel, physio and kit.”

“For Tokyo, the 65 UK athletes who took part had to raise £250,000 between them, just to enable them to represent this country.”

All of this happened while athletes were training for elite competition and working or studying full time.

The conclusion was clear: Deaf athletes succeed in spite of the system, not because of it.

The funding ask — and why it is modest

UK Deaf Sport estimates that:

“£3 million [is needed] to prepare a team through the next full cycle, ready for the 2029 Deaflympics.”

The Committee noted:

“That is less than 1% of what UK Sport has awarded for the Olympics and Paralympics in one Olympic cycle.”

This is not an excessive demand. It is a proportionate request for equality.

Committee recommendation, not yet a Parliamentary vote

The Committee is explicit about what it is asking Government to do:

“Commit, via UK Sport, to £3 million of funding now for elite deaf sport in the current Deaflympics cycle.”

“Permanently recognise the Deaflympics in the same way you do for the Paralympic and Olympic Games for funding purposes.”

This is a formal recommendation. It now requires:

  • Government acceptance
  • A funding decision
  • Political will to act

Two Big Ears: fair play must mean fair funding

As the Committee concludes:

“The Deaflympians who represented our country on the global stage… deserve an equal opportunity.”

The #FairPlayForDeafAthletes campaign has now been reinforced by Parliamentary scrutiny.

The evidence has been heard.
The recommendation has been made.

Now the Government must decide whether it will act.

“What Happens Next?” – Simple Explainer

Where we are now

  • The Culture, Media and Sport Committee has reviewed evidence
  • It has written formally to the Secretary of State
  • It has recommended £3 million in funding and permanent recognition of the Deaflympics

What this does NOT mean

  • This is not yet a vote of Parliament
  • Funding is not yet agreed
  • Policy has not yet changed

What must happen next

  1. The Government responds to the Committee
  2. Ministers decide whether to accept the recommendation
  3. UK Sport is instructed (or not) to release funding
  4. Longer-term recognition is agreed or rejected

Why this matters
Committee recommendations carry political weight.
Ignoring them requires justification.

This is the strongest position Deaf sport has held in UK policy discussions to date.

Read the full article on the UK Parliament website

Deaflympics Media Watch (16 November 2025)

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Data collected 0900 JST 16-Nov-2025

The Games are underway — but you’d hardly know it from the world’s sports desks.

Today should have been the moment the headlines shifted from warm-up stories to actual competition: goals scored, medals won, shocks, heroics, heartbreak. Instead? Silence. And not the Deaf kind. The media kind.

Yes, the results exist. They’re sitting quietly on the official Tokyo 2025 website. They’re in federation match reports — like the USA Deaf Women smashing Japan 5–0, or the Ukrainian men putting five past the US team. They’re hidden in Japanese corporate updates and athlete sponsor pages. The wrestling brackets are fully up. The schedules are live. The data is there.

Japan Today reported on members of the imperial family in attendance at the Opening Ceremony. (Image: POOL via ZUMA press Wire)

But where are the stories?

Where is the mainstream “Day 1 at the Deaflympics”?
Where is the BBC Sport medal table ticker?
Where is the ESPN highlight reel?
Where is even one big newsroom saying “Here’s what happened today”?

This is the pattern we’re exposing: if a Deaf athlete wins, you have to dig through official PDFs and federation pages to find out. The world’s sports media aren’t telling the story. Not yet. Media access information

And that’s exactly why we’re watching.
Exactly why we’re documenting this gap.
Exactly why we’re doing this work.

Because the athletes are competing.
The results are happening.
The moments are real.
The coverage should be too.

Real sport with real results, ignored by real newsrooms.

All the details are here on the official Deaflympics2025 website

Live action via You Tube

Understanding Audism in Deaf Sport

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The unseen barrier that perpetuates the discrimination of deaf people in sport.

Audism is the belief that hearing and speaking are superior to being deaf and using sign language. It leads to discrimination and systemic barriers that marginalize deaf people in education, employment, and sport. The term was coined by Tom Humphries (1977) and has since been explored in Deaf Studies and Disability Studies.

In sport, audism manifests in coaching structures, team dynamics, funding, communication, and access to opportunities. Many sporting organizations fail to recognize Deaf sport as distinct from disability sport or do not provide adequate accommodations, which limits deaf athletes’ participation and success.

Prof Tom Humphries first coined the phrase Audism in the 1970s

Key Aspects of Audism in Deaf Sport:

Linguistic Discrimination – Favouring spoken language over sign language

  • For many coaches and team staff verbal communication is the default, leaving deaf athletes struggling to follow instructions in training and competition. The also take the path of least resistance and engage more with non-signers.
  • Most organisations in the sports economy fail to provide sign language interpreters, assuming that lip-reading or written communication is enough—despite evidence that lip-reading is only about 30-40% effective.
  • Deaf sports teams and events often receive less media coverage because they do not fit traditional (spoken language-based) broadcasting formats.

Medical Model Bias – Viewing deafness as a “deficiency” that needs fixing

  • Sports federations inadvertently, out of ignorance, prioritize hearing aids or cochlear implants over sign language and accessible communication strategies, pushing deaf athletes toward a “hearing” approach to sport.
  • Deaf athletes who do not use hearing technology are overlooked or excluded because coaches and administrators see them as “too difficult to work with.”
  • In classification systems for disability sports, such as the European Disability Golf Association, deaf athletes are disallowed from competing in their elite class compete because deafness alone does not qualify them for Paralympic categories, reinforcing the idea that the lived-experience of deaf athletes and the Deaflympic classification is less valid.

Institutional Barriers – Lack of access to coaching, funding, and competition pathways

  • Many national governing bodies do not fund elite Deaf sport at the same level as other disability sports, making it harder for deaf athletes to access high-performance training.
  • Deaf athletes often face fewer opportunities to compete internationally because Deaf-specific events (like the Deaflympics) receive far less support compared to the Paralympics or mainstream sport.
  • In some cases, deaf players in mainstream teams are expected to “adapt” rather than teams making accommodations for them. For example, if a referee relies only on a whistle, a deaf athlete misses key signals during a match.

Cultural Erasure – Disregarding Deaf sport as a distinct culture

  • Deaf sport has its own history, traditions, and rules, yet many sports organizations treat Deaf sport as an afterthought, assuming deaf athletes should just integrate into mainstream teams.
  • Sporting federations sometimes fail to recognize Deaf sport records and achievements, treating them as secondary to hearing competitions.
  • Deaf athletes feel pressured to conform to hearing norms rather than being encouraged to celebrate Deaf identity in sport.
  • Sports federations (Cricket Australia) initially adopting deaf sports teams but over time failing to recognise the strategic significance of their Deaf sport partners (Deaf Cricket Australia) and capitalising on Deaf Gain.

Everyday Prejudice – Patronizing attitudes and lack of inclusion in team culture

  • Deaf athletes in mixed (hearing and deaf) teams often experience exclusion—for example, being left out of informal team chats or not being fully involved in pre-game strategy discussions.
  • Hearing coaches and teammates sometimes assume deaf athletes need “extra help”, even when they are fully capable of competing at the same level.
  • There have been reports of derogatory remarks made against deaf players in mixed disability teams, reinforcing the idea that they are not fully accepted.
Illustration from “What is Audism and How to Avoid It”

Audism in sport is not just about access—it’s about respect, equity, and recognition. True inclusion means more than adding an interpreter or letting a deaf player join a hearing team—it requires systemic changes in funding, training, and competition structures. Recognizing Deaf sport as a distinct and equal sporting category is crucial for breaking down audism and allowing deaf athletes to compete and thrive on their own terms.

To read more on the politics and challenges for Deaf sport “Same Spirit Different Team”

Breaking Barriers or Building Them? The Case for Deaf Women’s Cricket

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A report by UK Deaf Sport and Women in Sport sheds light on the significant challenges faced by deaf teenage girls in sport. It identifies key barriers such as communication difficulties, lack of inclusive environments, and gender bias that discourage participation. These findings are not unique to the UK—globally, deaf women and girls face systemic obstacles when trying to engage in sport at all levels.

A striking example of this is Cricket Australia’s decision not to support Deaf Cricket Australia women’s team. This choice sends a disappointing message about the priorities within the sport and the level of commitment to true inclusivity. Deaf women and girls in Australia, much like their counterparts in the UK, are being told—explicitly or implicitly—that their participation is not a priority.

Melissa Hale, Deaf Cricket Australia Read Bianna Boeker’s interview

The Parallels Between UK and Australian Deaf Women’s Sport

The UK Deaf Sport report highlights the importance of role models, accessible pathways, and a welcoming environment in fostering participation. When governing bodies fail to invest in women’s deaf sport, they reinforce the very barriers that studies like this seek to dismantle. If deaf teenage girls already struggle with access to inclusive environments, how much harder is it when there are no representative teams at a national level?

The impact of this decision extends beyond the cricket field. Sport is a crucial vehicle for confidence, leadership skills, and social connection. By refusing to support the women’s deaf cricket team, Cricket Australia is limiting opportunities for female athletes who already face greater hurdles to participation.

What Needs to Change?

Cricket Australia must reconsider its position and actively support Deaf Cricket by building a women’s programme. This includes:

  • Providing financial and logistical support to help develop a pathway for deaf female cricketers, just as hearing players have access to structured pathways.
  • Investing in inclusive coaching by ensuring that coaches are trained to work with deaf athletes, rather than relying solely on interpreters.
  • Promoting deaf female role models to inspire the next generation of cricketers.
  • Aligning with broader inclusion efforts seen in other sports that are actively working to break down barriers for women with disabilities.

The Bigger Picture

This is not just about cricket—it’s about ensuring that all athletes, regardless of gender or disability, have access to equal opportunities. The decision by Cricket Australia contradicts the growing global movement towards greater inclusivity in sport. Organisations such as UK Deaf Sport are making strides in addressing these issues, but without the backing of national governing bodies, progress will be slow.

The question is: does Cricket Australia want to be remembered as an organisation that fosters inclusion or one that reinforces exclusion? The choice is theirs, but the consequences will be felt most by those who need support the most.

It’s time for change. Support your national deaf sports!

For a more in-depth dive into the politics and challenges of deaf people in sport “Same Spirit Different Team”

Deaf Cricket Australia Closes: Implications for Future Generations

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A Heart-breaking Decision That Shakes the Deaf Sporting Community.

On January 31st, 2025, members of Deaf Cricket Australia (DCA) gathered at Melbourne Deaf Cricket Club. Others joined online for the historic but deeply emotional meeting. The organization announced its closure. What should have been a celebration of 130 years of Deaf cricket in Australia turned into a painful farewell.

Two Big Ears could look in and ask questions during the live-streamed session. We thank Expression Australia for setting up the technical arrangements.

The decision was not made lightly. DCA representatives Melissa Hale, Justin Bergin, and James Hale stood before a devastated audience. They explained the irreversible breakdown in negotiations with Cricket Australia (CA). The raw emotion in the room was unmistakable. As they spoke, their heartbreak was visible to everyone. They fought to hold their composure. It was clear how much this loss meant to them.

Cricket Australia’s Grip on Deaf Cricket

In recent years, Deaf Cricket Australia had to adapt to the structures set by Cricket Australia. Cricket Australia controls the National Cricket Inclusion Championships (NCIC) and the Australian Deaf Cricket Team.

The problem? Cricket Australia had full control.

Under its agreements, DCA:

  • Lost its autonomy to run independent competitions or seek its own sponsorship.
  • Was denied the right to form an Australian Deaf Women’s Cricket Team. This happened despite other countries like India and Sri Lanka already having theirs.
  • Had no say in decisions affecting Deaf cricket at a national level.

Melissa Hale made it clear:

“We knew from 130 years of history how Deaf cricket works. Cricket Australia just did not agree.”

With most hard-of-hearing players growing up in the hearing world, DCA’s biggest fear was the loss of Deaf leadership. They worried that the future of the sport would become just another hearing-dominated system. This change will strip it of the cultural and community values that made it unique.

Melissa Hale, DCA, speaking at the meeting.

A Decision Five Years in the Making

For over five years, Deaf Cricket Australia pushed for greater Deaf leadership. They also advocated for Deaf mentors and a structure that protected Deaf culture within the sport.

But the barriers were impossible to break. Cricket Australia repeatedly denied requests for a Deaf Women’s team. They offered no explanation. The organization also blocked attempts to secure independent sponsorship due to corporate agreements.

Audience member, Tamara Trina spoke for women in the Deaf community. She felt that Cricket Australia’s attitude towards deaf women is Audist and quite discriminatory. This attitude extends to deaf people.

Faced with no alternative, DCA made the painful decision to cease operations and seal its history. The name, logo, and trophies—including the prestigious Webby Cup and Abraham Shield—will now be preserved as historical artifacts.

A Tearful Goodbye: Holding Composure in the Face of Heartbreak

The most gut-wrenching moment of the night came when Melissa Hale, Justin Bergin, and James Hale gave their final remarks.

Each one fought back tears as they addressed the audience. Their voices wavered, and their hands trembled as they signed, trying not to break down. The weight of their words was heavy, and everyone in the room felt their pain.

Justin Bergin has been part of Deaf Cricket Australia since 1994. He shared how difficult it was to explain this decision. He found it challenging to communicate it to DCA life members like John Webb OAM, Kevin Smith, and Tony Clews.

“It’s been part of my life for 30 years. This was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

James Hale alluded to the internal battles and sleepless nights that went into this decision. He recalled a painful meeting with state representatives in March 2024. During that meeting, it became clear that DCA can no longer continue.

Melissa Hale, visibly struggling to keep her emotions in check, admitted:

“.. the three of don’t really want to be here tonight. We do know that the three of us are going to break your hearts.”

As they spoke, the room was silent. Many in the audience had tears in their eyes. The heartbreak was not just theirs—it belonged to the entire Deaf cricketing community.

What Happens Now?

With DCA gone, the NCIC will continue under Cricket Australia’s control, but with no Deaf leadership. This raises urgent concerns:

  • Without Deaf mentors, how will new Deaf players be welcomed into the sport?
  • Will Deaf culture and identity be respected in a hearing-dominated system?
  • Can Deaf Sports Australia (DSA) step in and make sure that Deaf cricket doesn’t disappear entirely?

Phil Harper from Deaf Sports Australia acknowledged these challenges. He admitted that DSA oversees 16 different sports. It does not have the resources to take over grassroots Deaf cricket development.

A Loss Felt Across Generations

The closure of Deaf Cricket Australia is more than just a sporting decision. It is a cultural loss for the Deaf community.

For 130 years, Deaf cricket has not just been a game. It is a place of belonging. It was a space where Deaf people connect through their language, identity, and shared experiences.

Now, that space is gone.

A Call to Action

The future of Deaf cricket now lies in the hands of the players and the community. Cricket Australia will continue running its teams. Yet, the question remains: Will Deaf players be capable of finding playing opportunities in this new system? Or will Cricket Australia’s decision be the beginning of the end for Australia’s biggest deaf sport?

If the community wants change, now is the time to step ahead. They should contact Deaf Sports Australia. It’s important to push for a system that respects Deaf identity and leadership.

For now, Deaf Cricket Australia is gone. But the spirit of its players, past and current, will never be forgotten.

#DeafCricketAustralia #EndOfAnEra #CricketForTheDeaf #DeafSports #CricketAustralia #InclusiveSport #DeafCommunity #130YearsOfHistory.

Fair Play for Deaflympic Athletes: Post-election Alliance Building and Advocacy

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“Amidst election preparations, the #FairPlayforDeafAthletes campaign highlights the need for equitable funding, showing significant backing from the British Sign Language community.”

Over the past 6 months there has been an online petition to change the UK government policy to fund Deaflympic athletes that garnered 8,333 signatures, which fell short of the 10,000 needed for a government response and the 100,000 required for a parliamentary debate. This petition closed on the 20th May deadline this week.

Let’s consider the merits of this petition using percentages to better illustrate the support within the context of the UK population and the British Sign Language (BSL) community:

UK Deaf Sport’s delegation to the Sports Minister 13th May 2024

 Proportional Representation and Advocacy

1. Population Context:

   – The UK has a population of approximately 60 million people. Within this population, around 175,000 individuals are sign language users ranging from those who use it as their first language and others who have required it by learning the language and being exposed to and involved in Deaf community activities such as Deaf sport. This group includes deaf, hard of hearing and hearing individuals.

   – The 8,333 signatures represent about 0.014% of the total UK population. This may seem like a small percentage, but it’s more significant when viewed within the context of the BSL community.

   – Within the BSL community, 8,333 signatures equate to roughly 4.8%. This demonstrates a strong level of support and engagement from the BSL community itself.

2. Awareness and Mobilization:

   – The campaign successfully mobilized nearly 5% of the BSL community, indicating a high level of concern and commitment to the issue within this group.

   – However, to reach the thresholds set for government responses or parliamentary debates, the campaign needs to extend its reach beyond the immediate community to garner broader public support.

3. Legitimacy of the Petition:

   – Despite not meeting the required thresholds, the petition shows substantial support from a dedicated community, highlighting the legitimacy and urgency of the issue.

– The 10,000 and 100,000 thresholds are 0.0167% and 0.167% respectively of the UK population

– The 8,333 signatures are 4.8% of the UK’s BSL community.

   – This level of support within a specific community suggests the issue deserves attention and should not be dismissed due to the overall percentage being small in the context of the entire UK population.

Map from the petition website showing signatures represented EVERY constituency of the UK except one. The darker shading showing signatures with higher % of each area.

 Implications of the Government Shutdown for the General Election due on 4th July 2024

1. Impact on Current Advocacy:

   – With the government shutdown for the General Election campaign, parliamentary activities will be paused, delaying any immediate action on the petition.

   – This period can be challenging for advocacy efforts as the focus shifts to election campaigns.

2. Strategic Opportunities:

   – The election period presents an opportunity to engage with MPs and candidates, pressing them to include support for Deaflympic funding in their election platforms.

   – This can be a strategic moment to bring the issue to the forefront and secure commitments from candidates.

 Options and Next Steps for #FairPlayforDeafAthletes

1. Lobbying and Advocacy:

   – Engage with political candidates and parties to secure pledges of support for Deaflympic funding.

   – Organize meetings, write letters, and use social media to highlight the importance of this cause during the election period. https://ukdeafsport.org.uk/fairplayfordeafathletes/

2. Public Awareness Campaign:

   – Increase the visibility of the campaign through media outreach, collaborations with other advocacy groups, and public demonstrations.

   – Share personal stories of Deaflympic athletes and the impacts of funding shortages to garner public sympathy and support.

3. Future Petitions and Partnerships:

   – Consider launching another petition after the election, with strategies to surpass the required thresholds.

   – Partner with broader disability and sports organizations to expand the support base and increase reach for future petitions.

4. Direct Engagement with Elected Officials:

   – After the election, engage directly with newly elected MPs to advocate for policy changes and secure their commitment to supporting Deaflympic athletes.

   – Identify supportive MPs who can champion the cause within Parliament and help drive policy changes.

Signing Off

While the petition did not meet the required signatures, it demonstrated strong support within the BSL community, representing nearly 5% of this group.

The upcoming election provides a critical opportunity to push the #FairPlayforDeafAthletes agenda by engaging with candidates and raising public awareness.

By leveraging this period strategically and building broader alliances, the campaign can continue to advocate for equitable funding for Deaflympic athletes.

One to Watch this Week

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Two Big Ears, will be keeping up to date on the progress of the Profoundly Deaf European U23 silver medallist hammer thrower, Charlotte Payne, who debuts at this week’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

Charlotte, from Reading, UK, is 21 years old who, last year, became the British Champion for the first time in the Women’s Hammer with a throw of 70.59m as she also became the youngest British woman to throw over 70m.

Charlotte Payne (GB) [Getty Images]

Charlotte missed out on last years Commonwealth Games as she failed to qualify, (she broke the British record after the qualifying date). Anna Purchase, went on to represent England at the games and joins Charlotte in Budapest this week. Anna and Charlotte are chasing the 74.54m record set by Sophie Hitchon at the Rio Olympics in 2016, who has since retired from the sport. ‘We are coming into a golden age of hammer’ they told the BBC.

We are not expecting Charlotte to win a medal in Budapest as the event is currently dominated by the North Americans, led by 27- year-old, Brooke Anderson who is only the 3rd person who has thrown over 80m in this event.

Ranked 30th in the world with a best throw of 72.51 this summer, Charlotte is one of the four youngest competitors at this years event including Silja Kosonen (FIN) the European U23 Champion (ranked 8th). The others are Jie Zhao (CHN) 18th and Rose Loga (FRA) 19th. Charlotte has shown that she can compete with the best as she came second to Kosonen and beat Loga by 1.26m at the European U23 championships this year.

The event starts on Wednesday 23rd August with two qualifying groups at 19:00 and 20:35. The final will be held the next day 24th August at 20:26.

If you are watching from the UK we might be able to catch up with the event on the BBC between 19:00 – 21:00. If you like outside the UK, you an find your TV viewing times at where to watch

Payne told the BBC “I hope that I can offer some sort of inspiration for other deaf athletes coming through”.

If you know of any other deaf athletes competing in Budapest this week, please let us know so that we can cover them in our reporting.

See more reporting from the BBC

Russian Deaflympic Gold medallist sues former ICSD President of Slander

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The legal representatives of the Russian beach Volleyball athlete Rushan Dayanov have filed a lawsuit of slander to protect his honour and dignity against accusations made by Valery Rukhledev in a TV interview that he is in fact hearing and should not be competing in deaf sport.

Extract from Video: Dayanov having an audiometry test (copyright DEAFNET)

We are grateful to readers of our website who have alerted us to this case. The information is available on the Russian website DEAFNET from October 2022. It also has a video of Dayanov as he has a hearing test to prove that his deafness meets ICSD standards of 55dB or more in the better ear.

The story came about after ICSD received an anonymous latter claiming that the athlete has fraudulently won a Beach Volleyball gold medal at the 2005 Deaflympics in Melbourne. Such accusation are very serious for Russian athletes because if they are disqualified, they not only lose their medal but also a pension from the government.

Dayanov and Ivanov at the medal ceremony (copyright DEAFNET)

Dayanov’s team-mate in the Beach Volleyball competition was Stanislav Ivanov the head of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf (VOG) which suggests that the letter was actually written by disgruntled former employees at VOG who have a vendetta against Ivanov and that Dayanov has become the scapegoat.

Ruslan Daryakuliev, Dayanov’s Lawyer (copyright DEAFNET)

The lawyer representing Dayanov claim to have irrefutable proof of his hearing loss and in the video, the athlete said “I achieved the championship with sweat and blood, worked hard for 20 years to deserve this prize- not only for myself, but first of all the country. This whole situation was an absolute shockfor me. I have nothing to hide. It hurts that for the sake of petty intrigues, swindlers are ready to break a persons life.”

The lawyer Daryakuliev promises that the response to slander would be ‘extremely harsh’. The defendants in the case are Rukhledev, the All-Russian Television of the Deaf and its editor in chief Alexander Soldatov. Applications have already been prepared to initiate criminal cases under the charge of ‘slander’.

Valery Rukhledev, former ICSD President speaking to All-Russian Deaf TV (copyright DEAFNET)

The video in the article shows Rukhledev talking to All-Russian Deaf TV “Dyanov spoke among the deaf, but in fact he is 100% hearing”. he speaks fluently and does not know sign language. This is already a global scandal.”

This case does raise issues around the proof that athletes require to compete in international deaf sports. In the athlete’s defence it has been explained that he has speech that is almost indistinguishable from that of hearing people because he did not become deaf until he was 10 years old after a serious illness. Comments on the website suggest that it may be very difficult to prove what his hearing was like in 2005, because Dayanov is now 62/63 years of age and likely that he would present such a level of deafness for his age.

The video showing Dayanov’s Deaflympic medals (Copyright DEAFNET)

His last Deaflympic competition was in 2017 when he won a bronze medal in the beach Volleyball.

The lawyer also argues that the Russian Deaflympic committee should not be undertaking disciplinary checks on the basis of an anonymous letter and should have taken measures to protect athletes from anonymous accusations and identifying the authors of such letters.

Russian Deaflympic team with President Putin (copyright DEAFNET)

We have no updates on this case, perhaps our readers will keep us informed?

You can rind the full article on DEAFNET website

Russians used body doubles for Deaflympic Audiogram Testing

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12 days ago, we were sent a message alerting us to fraudulent activity by Russian Deaf Ice Hockey to enter hearing players into the Deaflympics.

Our messenger claimed that they were approached by a Russian whistle-blower maintaining that the Russian Deaf Ice Hockey team have been cheating for years, using hearing players at the European, World and Deaflympic competitions. For their evidence they shared links to Russian on-line news website which we have checked and verified. The article is an interview with Vyacheslav Rakhin who competed in the 2003, 2007 Winter Deaflympics and honoured with the title Master of Sport, Russia. The article appeared one week after the completion of the 2015 Deaflympics hosted in the Russian resort of Khanty-Mansiysk.

In the interview, published in November 2015, Rakhin talks openly about revealing the murkier side of Deaf sport as well as his business life after professional ice-hockey. Our source says that there was another interview in December 2015 where Rakhin denied everything, “we believe someone in Russia got mad about his older interview and told him to fix this up.”

Although the activities described in this interview took place in 2003, the Russian whistle-blower says that hearing players were used in the team at the World Deaf Championships 2013 and Deaflympics 2015.

Here is our summary of the news article on the Russian website, we invite our readers to judge for themselves and read the news sources at the end of this post.

Rakhin says that the Executive Board of Russia’s national team knew he was hearing “It was no secret, except to the medical committee.” whom he managed to convince that he was deaf.

Competing as a professional, Rakhin was approached in 1995 but the Russians felt that he would be too high profile and suspicious and instead, concentrated on players from Novosibirsk where they had a core of players from the school for the Deaf competing in local leagues.

When he retired, he was asked to compete in the 2003 Deaflympics. As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) he had learnt to lip-read and became fluent in sign language. The team coach was from Tver, and they strengthened the team with two more hearing players but the big problem was how to pass the hearing test organised by the medical committee.

Rakhin was able to pass the test because he understood how to behave the like a Deaf person “my mother couldn’t her the doorbell, but she could hear knocking.” Knowing that she could not hear high frequency sounds only low frequency – he applied this tactic during the test.

He tried to coach the other two players into passing the test, but the doctor was able to spot they were hearing because “they just stared at one spot without reacting to anything.” The doctor made some notes and then turned around to challenge the “cheaters”.

Because of the failure, people from a “higher level” had to find an agreement with the doctor as ‘the executive board of the national team pleaded “that there was a great need on behalf of our country, because without these players we will be kaput” At first, the doctor objected and said that she would get into trouble, but it appears that she was persuaded to issue false audiograms.

To be able to pass the audiogram tests at the Deaflympics, the team officials had to bring body doubles to attend the mandatory test in place of the two players and they needed deaf people who closely resembled them. It was a difficult task, but eventually they found two deaf men who vaguely looked like the two hearing players, one who was bald and the other with red hair. The first person was forced, under protest, to shave his head and the red-haired impostor managed to cover up his athlete accreditation with his hands, enough to pass the scrutineers.

Rakhin explained that this might be very difficult to achieve nowadays because the technology is more sophisticated.

The Russians received 10,000 rubles each for winning the bronze medal in 2003 and a monthly stipend of 16,000 a month for four years. In 2007 they each received 30,000 a month for winning the silver.

The original articles are found at:

http://sport.business-gazeta.ru/article/122217/

https://www.business-gazeta.ru/article/130016

Vyacheslav Rakhin Deaflympic profile https://www.deaflympics.com/athletes/vyacheslav-rakhin

DIBF Update on WADA Compliance

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Deaf International Basketball Federation share the latest update on their work to become compliant. with WADA ‘Clean Sport’ code

https://youtu.be/IFVQ72XkuGE