Cheating scandal rocks Paralympic Games as Italian rower disqualified

An Italian rower has been disqualified and stripped of a medal after it was found he had used a banned device during a race.

Tony Robertson - The Sun

less than 2 min read

September 2, 2024 - 6:54AM

MUNICH, GERMANY - AUGUST 13: Giacomo Perini of Italy reacts after winning the PR1 Men's Single Sculls Final A on day 3 of the European Championships Munich 2022 at Munich Olympic Regatta Centre on August 13, 2022 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

The 2024 Paralympics have been hit by a cheating scandal after an athlete was stripped of his medal in Paris.

Italian rower Giacomo Perini was stripped of his bronze medal following an investigation that deemed he had used a banned device, The Sun reports.

The 28-year-old was disqualified after officials found he had been using a communication device, such as a walkie-talkie or phone, during the PR1 Men’s Single Sculls event.

“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,” a statement from World Rowing said.

“As a result, the crew has been excluded from the event and will be ranked last.”

The original result had seen Paralympics GB’s Benjamin Pritchard claim gold with a time of 9:03.84.

Silver had gone to Ukraine’s Roman Polianskyi more than ten seconds back, before Perini had claimed the final medal.

However, the ban saw Australia’s Erik Horrie inherit the bronze medal after he came fourth.

“There was a situation that happened,” Horrie said to Channel 9.

“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.

Horrie on the podium after being elevated into third. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

“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.”

Horrie won silver at the London, Rio and Tokyo games.

“Mate, this means so much,” he said.

“All the sacrifices my family have made (and) putting up with me in the good times and the bad times. As with all athletes, there are a lot of bad times with training and injury.