The 60-year-old is one of the leading sports medicine specialists in Great Britain, with a particular expertise in the area of disability and Paralympic sports.

He has attended nine Paralympic Games in various roles, including as chief medical officer for ParalympicsGB at London 2012, and also works with the Invictus Games.

Webborn takes over the position of chair from Tim Reddish, who stepped down from the role after eight years following the completion of two terms. 

He beat his only rival candidate, retired Paralympic footballer and current chair of the BPA's Athletes' Commission David Clarke.

Clarke was subsequently elected to the Board.

As well as serving as medical director at University-of-Brighton-based sports medicine clinic Sportswise, Webborn is also a member of both the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Medical Committee and World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List Expert Group. 

He started the IPC’s Injury Surveillance Programme in 2002 and last year was awarded an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s 90th birthday honours list for services to Paralympic sports medicine and the BPA.

"It is a great privilege to be nominated for this position and an even greater honour to be elected by my peers from across the movement as chair," Webborn said.

"My experience as an athlete, a medic and as an international representative working with the IPC and WADA gives me the credibility in the international arena to carry forward the agenda of the BPA.

"I’d like to pay tribute to Tim Reddish in his leadership of the BPA over the last eight years. 

"We find ourselves in a great position but I relish the challenge of the forthcoming cycle."

Webborn, who studied medicine at the Royal London Hospital, was injured playing rugby aged 24 while serving as a doctor in the Royal Air Force.

He subsequently spent time in both Headley Court and Stoke Mandeville as part of his rehabilitation.

As an athlete, Webborn represented Britain in wheelchair tennis in 2005.

"I would like to congratulate Dr Nick on his election," BPA chief executive Tim Hollingsworth said.

"He has been an amazing part of the BPA's history already including serving as a superb chief medical officer at London 2012.

"I look forward to working closely with him and to the BPA benefiting from his wealth of experience as we look to continue our growth and progression towards Tokyo 2020 and beyond.

"I would also like to pay a final fantastic tribute to Tim Reddish and thank him personally for his incredible support and leadership over the past eight years.

"He has been a fantastic chair for the BPA and I know he will continue to make a real contribution to the Paralympic Movement both in the UK and internationally."

Also re-elected to the BPA’s Board was Geoff Newton, while new members will be Clarke and Forbes Dunlop.

Newton, executive director of the Tennis Foundation, and Dunlop, chief executive of Scottish Swimming and former chair of the British Paralympic Performance Services, were first elected in 2013.