From paralympians to pariahs. You would a think a disabled athlete has enough obstacles in life without being pressed into a state doping programme and then thrown out of the Paralympics when the whole sordid conspiracy comes to light.

For a minute or two in Rio, it was tempting to dwell on the cruelty of paralympians being expelled from a festival they have spent four years working towards.

But then a deeper urge took hold to applaud the International Paralympic Committee for having the courage to take a step the International Olympic Committee were too weak and compromised to consider.