British Athletics confirms Paralympic champion’s funding will be suspended while she competes on The Jump

Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox will have her UK Sport funding suspended while she takes part in Channel 4’s winter sports television programme The Jump, British Athletics has confirmed.

Cox, who in Rio became the first British athlete since 1984 to win gold medals in two different sports at a single Paralympics with victories in the T38 400m and cycling C4-5 500m time trial, announced her participation in the show on Twitter last month.

The Jump has received some criticism in the past with some athletes, including former Olympic and world gold medallist sprinter Linford Christie, having sustained injury while participating.

“Kadeena Cox will be participating on the ‘The Jump’ on Channel 4 in the coming weeks and British Athletics can confirm that her UK Sport funding supported by the National Lottery will be suspended (from Jan 1st 2017) until she returns to training and proves fitness,” British Athletics told AW.

“Due to the nature of the activities on the show, the athlete cannot continue to be supported by the WCPP (World Class Performance Programme) during this time. However, we wish her all the best with the programme and look forward to welcoming her back to the sport after the show.”

Cox, who had a stroke in May 2014 and was later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, hopes to compete in four events – the 100m, 200m, 400m and 4x100m – at the World Para Athletics Championships in London this summer.

Cox has since defended her decision to take part in the show and said on Twitter: “B4 judging my decisions ppl should imagine living life as a ticking time bomb. MS has changed my outlook on life, so I’m gonna enjoy skiing.”