A cheating row erupted at the Paralympics after an Italian rower was stripped of his bronze medal for allegedly using a device similar to a walkie-talkie during his final.
Giacomo Perini was disqualified after he was caught with an unknown communications gadget during the PR1 Men’s Single Sculls event.
Competition rules dictate that all types of communications equipment are forbidden, but in a bizarre twist Italian officials later claimed Perini had forgotten to remove his phone from the boat before the race.
The 28-year-old was nevertheless excluded from the event and ranked last, elevating Australian rower Erik Horrie to the bronze medal position. Britain’s Benjamin Pritchard won gold in the event at the Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium.
Paralympics officials launched an investigation into Perini’s alleged cheating immediately after the device was found in his boat.
“In the final of the PR1 M1x, the ITA PR1 MRX was found to be using communications equipment during the race, in breach of Rule 28 and Appendix R2, Bye-Law to Rule 28,’ World Rowing said in a statement. “As a result, the crew has been excluded from the event and will be ranked last.”
But Italy’s rowing federation has vowed to appeal the decision. “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,” the body said in a statement. “We will shortly provide news of the outcome of the appeal.”
Australian Horrie, who won silver medals in London, Rio and Tokyo, offered his own version of events shortly after the race, adding he was delighted to add a bronze to his collection.
“There was a situation that happened,” he explained to the Australian TV channel, Nine. “World Rowing and Paralympics officials saw it and then made the decision [to disqualify Perini] and I was lucky enough to come away with the bronze.
“That’s all I can say, really. It’s the joys of sport. There are rules, and as athletes, we stick to them. I’m just excited about getting the bronze. I’m at my fourth Games and I can say that I’ve medalled at every single Paralympics that I’ve been to.”