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Voices of Our Paralympic Athletes
References and Resources
The Core Concept
(Ethics Unwrapped, 2024)
The Paralympic Games showcase incredible athleticism and human spirit, but they are not immune to ethical controversies. This discussion will explore the growing issue of cheating, particularly the manipulation of the classification system as well as the steps being taken to address it.
Similar Stories of Cheating
Bamford (2020)
Zelealem (2024)
NBC News (2016)
News.Com.Au (2024)
Kohlberg's Six Stages
One of the most anchored guiding principles of The Paralympic Truth is Kohlberg's Six Stages.
I. Pre-Conventional Morality
Stage 1. Obedience and Punishment Orientation
In this scenario, avoiding punishment is the main motivation. For example, a Paralympic athlete avoids faking a disability only because they’re afraid of getting caught and banned from competing.
Stage 2. Individualism and Exchange
In this scenario, decisions are based on self-interest or a fair exchange on something that was done. For example, a coach supports fair classification because they know that if the competition stays fair, their own athletes have a better chance of winning.
II. Conventional Morality
Stage 3. Good Interpersonal Relationships
In this scenario, a person wants to be seen as good by others. For example, a Paralympian follows ethical rules to be respected by teammates, fans, and coaches.
Stage 4. Maintaining the Social Order
The focus is on obeying laws and maintaining order. For example, athletes and coaches follow IPC regulations and penalizes athletes who are cheating to protect the sport’s integrity.
III. Postconventional Morality
Stage 5. Social Contract and Individual Rights
Laws are seen as flexible and decisions of people will consider justice. For example, an athlete speaks out publicly against cheating, even though it will cost them something, because they believe that the system should be fair for all.
Stage 6: Universal Principles
In this scenario, people are guided by internal moral principles that apply to everyone. For example, a Paralympian refuses to accept a gold medal after realizing that it was not supposed to be awarded to them, because winning unfairly goes against their values.