'Invisible' disabilities being targeted, says Shropshire Paralympian Danielle Brown
Telford archer Danielle Brown says athletes with 'invisible' disabilities will suffer as a result of Paralympic rule changes.
The 2012 champion has chronic foot pain, but was ruled ineligible for future Games last year by the International Paralympic Committee.
"The Paralympic values of inclusion and equality are out of the window," said the 26-year-old. "It seems to be the invisible disabilities they are targeting."
Brown cannot appeal against the decision and will be unable to defend her title in the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
In 2010, she became the first English Paralympian to qualify for an able-bodied Commonwealth team – and won gold in Delhi.
But her compound bow is not in the programme at Glasgow this summer and she does not want to switch to the recurve bow.
"The condition (complex regional pain syndrome, or CRPS) is very strange," she said.
"Some people have it and they are better in a couple of months or years, but I've had it for 14 years now."
Her case for inclusion was supported by the British Athletes Commission and she said: "I fought it as hard and as far as I could."
What is complex regional pain syndrome? Find out more.
