Paralympians with Olympic ring tattoo could be banned from upcoming Paris Games

UPDATE 23/08/24 - The Paralympic committee have confirmed that athletes will not be disqualified for having tattoos of the Olympic rings.

A spokesperson told LADbible: "We will not be banning athletes for Olympic rings tattoos at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The policy changed after Tokyo 2020."

ORIGINAL STORY: The Olympics have been and gone, which only means one thing - the Paralympic Games are coming to Paris.

The French capital is gearing up to welcome thousands of athletes with a range of disabilities next week when the international event kicks off on 28 August.

However, inked-up sports stars might have their chance at glory snatched away from them before they even have the opportunity to compete, due to a weird rule about certain tattoos.

As you might have noticed, tons of competitors have adorned their skin in artwork - including pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati, 21, who has a tattoo which is very apt considering the circumstances surrounding his Olympic fail.

Often, athletes also get inkings after competing to commemorate their achievement at the Games.

The Olympic rings are obviously a popular choice - however, this iconic symbol - first created by Pierre de Coubertin - could land participants in hot water at the 2024 Paralympics.

Athletes with certain tattoos could land themselves in trouble at the Paralympics in Paris (JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Sporting greats taking part in one of the 549 medal events could face a ban if officials spot the five rings on their skin.

Retired Paralympian Josef Craig found this out the hard way ahead of the 2016 Games in Rio, as the Brit swimmer was penalised for showing off his tattoo of the Olympic rings on his chest.

At the IPC Swimming European Championships in Portugal eight years ago, the 27-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, won his heat in the S8 100m freestyle competition, but was then disqualified.

Despite his incredible performance in the pool, he lost out on the title because he had his inking - which sits on the left side of his chest under a ParalympicsGB lion's head - on display.

And it's all down to a bizarre rule which the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) enforces, which forbids athletes from 'body advertising'.

The IPC is a completely separate entity from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and therefore the iconic emblem still falls under this umbrella - and athletes are awarded no special treatment.

Josef Craig was penalised for his Olympic-themed inking (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

To get around this issue, Craig has previously wore coverings to hide his tattoo, although he got even more creative before competing in Rio in 2016.

The swimming star painted over the artwork with a picture of the Union Jack to circumvent the rules.

Well, he can't exactly stick a t-shirt on in the pool can he?

Following Craig's disqualification from the European Championships, an IPC spokesperson said: "Body advertising is not allowed in any way whatsoever and that includes the Olympic rings.

"The athlete did not wear a cover and was therefore disqualified. All teams are informed of the advertising policy at a technical meeting prior to competition. It wasn’t as if they had not been reminded about the rules."

Despite many people considering the rules to be excessively strict and the IPC previously coming under fire for enforcing them, reports suggest it will once again be in force at the Paralympic Games in Paris.

The event will kick off on 28 August before wrapping up on 8 September.