The 24-year-old athlete was disqualified earlier this month ahead of the World Para Judo Championships when medical examiners determined she had complete vision—contradicting her classification as a visually impaired competitor.
Hajiyeva had been competing in Paralympic judo since at least 2019, when as an 18-year-old she made headlines by defeating China’s Paralympic champion Li Liqing at the Grand Prix in Baku. She later reached the pinnacle of Paralympic achievement by winning gold in Tokyo.
Azerbaijan’s National Paralympic Committee (NPC) addressed the disqualification by pointing to recent changes in classification regulations for visually impaired athletes.
“At the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Parajudo competitions were held in categories B1, B2 and B3. However, in the run-up to the Paralympic Games in Paris and at the Games themselves, the number of categories was reduced, and competitions were organised in two new categories – J1 and J2,” the NPC explained in an official statement.
The committee continued: “As a result of the changes, many eye diseases previously included in the J2 category were excluded from the list. Despite the fact that Gadzhieva represented our country in the J2 category until 2024, due to the changes it became clear that she will no longer be able to compete in parajudo.”
While the NPC’s statement suggests the disqualification stems from classification changes, reports indicate that medical tests determined Hajiyeva has full eyesight, triggering the lifetime ban from Paralympic competition.
This case raises serious questions about the classification system in Paralympic sports and the verification processes used to ensure athletes compete in appropriate categories based on their abilities and disabilities.
The International Paralympic Committee has long struggled with classification controversies across various sports, as the complex system aims to create fair competitive conditions for athletes with different types and degrees of impairment.
Hajiyeva’s case represents one of the most high-profile instances of alleged classification fraud in recent Paralympic history, particularly troubling given her achievement of winning gold at the Tokyo Paralympics.
