The European Judo Union (EJU) has released the official Eligibility Criteria for Athletes with Disabilities in Adapted Judo Tournaments, setting out clear and transparent standards to ensure fair, safe, and inclusive competition across Europe.
The new guidelines establish eligibility for athletes within two age categories: U15 (ages 9–14) and Over 15. To ensure a fair level of competition, the criteria cover five main groups of impairments:
- Physical impairments
- Intellectual impairments
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Visual impairments
- Hearing impairments (U15 only)
The framework details the medical and psychological assessments required for eligibility confirmation, as well as conditions that are not eligible in order to safeguard athletes’ health and integrity of competition.
The evaluation process includes athlete status categories [Review, Confirmed, Confirmed with Re-evaluation, and Not Eligible] supported by comprehensive documentation requirements. Virtus-classified athletes are automatically recognised by EJU upon request.
Importantly, the EJU underlines its strong commitment to data protection and confidentiality, ensuring compliance with GDPR while safeguarding athletes’ personal information.
With the publication of this document, the EJU reaffirms its dedication to inclusion, fairness, and respect, offering equal opportunities for athletes with disabilities to compete under unified standards in judo.
For more information, please visit www.eju.net or contact [email protected].
Author: Szandra Szogedi