{"id":682,"date":"2025-06-07T15:43:50","date_gmt":"2025-06-07T14:43:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/?p=682"},"modified":"2025-06-07T16:44:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-07T15:44:54","slug":"the-hajiyeva-case-paralympic-linganno-that-shook-the-judo-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/en\/the-hajiyeva-case-paralympic-linganno-that-shook-the-judo-world\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hajiyeva Case: the Paralympic deception that shook the judo world"},"content":{"rendered":"<script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"1033\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"1034\">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<\/script>\n<p>In the Paralympic world, where every medal is often the result of a twofold battle-against the opponent and against one's own limitations-the case of <strong>Shahana Hajiyeva<\/strong> has left a heavy shadow. Azerbaijani judoka, class of 2000, winner of gold at the Paralympics in <strong>Tokyo 2020<\/strong> in the J2 category (reserved for visually impaired athletes), was <strong>disqualified for life<\/strong> for <strong>Having competed without visual impairment<\/strong>.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"1037\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"726\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A resounding discovery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Everything changed in 2025, during pre-race medical checks at the World Parajudo Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. Doctors determined that Hajiyeva <strong>had no visual impairment<\/strong>, indeed: his eyesight resulted <strong>fully functional<\/strong>.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"1033\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"985\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>In just a few weeks, the news went around the world. The International Paralympic Committee made a drastic decision: <strong>disqualification for life<\/strong> from all Paralympic competitions and <strong>revocation of the gold medal<\/strong> conquered in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">An injury to the credibility of the sport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The incident prompted a wave of reactions and questions. How was it possible for an athlete to pass international screening to participate in Tokyo 2020 without the required visual requirements? The classification system for Paralympic athletes, already complex and delicate, ends up under indictment for possible <strong>Flaws in medical screening and disability verification<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some experts talk about <strong>criteria still too interpretable<\/strong>, others point the finger at a <strong>national certification management<\/strong> often opaque.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The paradox of the athlete who \"could see just fine\"<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hajiyeva's story, first told by the Italian media and later picked up by numerous international news outlets, has a painful paradox: while thousands of Paralympic athletes struggle every day to overcome barriers, someone used disability as a mask to compete where he or she was not entitled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Azerbaijani judoka, already considered a promise of Paralympic sports, had built her fame on the tatami, beating real opponents ... but with a <strong>false condition<\/strong>. A damage to trust, the spirit of the Games, and the perception of the value of inclusion in sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"892\" height=\"655\" src=\"https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/paralimpica.png\" alt=\"Paralympic gold medalist athlete\" class=\"wp-image-683\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/paralimpica.png 892w, https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/paralimpica-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/paralimpica-768x564.png 768w, https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/paralimpica-16x12.png 16w, https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/paralimpica-600x441.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 892px) 100vw, 892px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What changes after the Hajiyeva case?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The International Paralympic Committee has already announced a <strong>review of classification protocols<\/strong> medical. National federations, including those in Europe and Asia, have been asked to update their methods of validating athlete profiles, especially in categories related to non-visible disabilities (such as vision, coordination, or sensory perception).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This case then becomes a <strong>symbolic precedent<\/strong>, but also a wake-up call for the Paralympic movement: <strong>Strengthen transparency to protect real athletes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Hajiyeva case is not just sports news: it is a <strong>ethical watershed<\/strong>. In a context where authenticity is the real gold, those who cheat undermine the foundations of the sport itself. Paralympic judo, a symbol of balance, respect and discipline, emerges wounded but also with a new awareness: <strong>Protecting integrity is now more of a priority than ever before<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"amc-dopo-il-contenuto\" id=\"amc-272422515\"><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"1033\" data-bid=\"1\">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<\/script><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nel mondo paralimpico, dove ogni medaglia \u00e8 spesso il frutto di una battaglia doppia \u2013 contro l\u2019avversario e contro i propri limiti \u2013 il caso di Shahana Hajiyeva ha lasciato un\u2019ombra pesante. Judoka azera, classe 2000, vincitrice dell\u2019oro alle Paralimpiadi di Tokyo 2020 nella categoria J2 (riservata ad atleti ipovedenti), \u00e8 stata squalificata a vita [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,1,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-paralimpiadi","category-notizie-e-aggiornamenti","category-notizie-e-approfondimenti"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=682"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":691,"href":"https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/682\/revisions\/691"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aspettandomilanocortina2026.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}