Cheating controversy at the Paralympics as Italian rower loses medal for breaking the rules

02 September 2024 , 08:01

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Cheating controversy at the Paralympics as Italian rower loses medal for breaking the rules

Italian rower Giacomo Perini finished third in the PR1 Men’s Single Sculls event before being stripped of his bronze medal following an investigation after breaking race rules

The Paris Paralympics have been rocked by a cheating row after Italian rower Giacomo Perini was stripped of a bronze medal for breaching rules.

Perini, 28, finished third during the PR1 Men’s Single Sculls event before race officials deemed he had been using an ’unknown communication device’ during the race. 

And it was subsequently decided that Perini would be excluded from the official race results following an investigation.

Paris 2024 officials later confirmed that using a communication device, such as a phone or a walky-talky, during the race is a violation of event rules to explain their decision to strip Perini of his medal.

Italy’s rowing authorities released a statement after Perini had been sanctioned confirming that he had forgotten to remove his phone from the boat before the race started.

In a statement shared on social media, they said: "After a historic and highly competitive competition, ending with an exciting third place and a bronze medal, while everyone was celebrating the achievement, the Jury was excluded from the Paralympic podium of the PR1 single for this reason: ’In the final Men’s singles PR1, the Italian athlete was found using communication equipment during the race, in violation of rule 28 and Appendix R2, Bye-Law of rule 28. Consequently, the crew was excluded from the event and is classified last’. 

"The Federation is proceeding with an official claim, providing the records of Perini’s phone, who is solely responsible for having forgotten it on the boat.

James Smith