UK Athletics (UKA) has announced that the number of British Paralympic athletes supported by Lottery funding is to be cut as part of its new performance criteria in the lead-up to London 2012.

Public money will now be directed at a smaller group of athletes which UKA believes are capable of achieving medal success, with the number of athletes supported by the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) decreasing from 42 to 33. With no opportunity for potential 2012 Paralympians to prove themselves in international competition before the 2011 IPC World Championships, UKA argues that exclusive focus on the London Games is crucial for the WCPP.

Funding levels have been clarified as part of the new criteria, with each of the gold medallists from the 2008 Beijing Games who have demonstrated potential to win gold in four years time coming under the Podium A band. Silver or bronze medallists from Beijing with potential to earn gold at the IPC World Championships will receive Podium B support, and Podium C incorporates 2008 medallists who have the potential to win a medal again.

The move is designed to bring disabled athletes in line with their non-disabled counterparts on the WCPP, following UKA's recent decision to withdraw Lottery support from 20 per cent of non-disabled athletes.