This policy was put into place in 2014, with the goal of avoiding last minute changes in classes that would negatively impact athlete training preparations.
All competitors needed to be internationally classified with their classification status confirmed prior to the Games, with exceptions to this policy being dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
[9] Becoming classified as a paddler involves the examination of the impairment, pre-competition assessment of sport specific skills and in competition review.
[10] Paddlers are classified based on loss of muscle strength equivalent to a spinal cord injury complete at T12 level and impaired range of motion.
[citation needed] Medallists in the KL3 class at the 2015 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships included Tom Kierey (Germany), Robert Oliver (Great Britain), Leonid Krylov (Russia), Amanda Reynolds (Australia), Anne Dickins (Great Britain), Cindy Moreau (France).