Italian rower is stripped of his medal amid Paralympics dishonest row

A cheating row has erupted at the Paralympics after an Italian rower was caught breaking a rule in his boat and stripped of his bronze medal.

Giacomo Perini, 28, has been excluded from the final results after an investigation revealed that he had been using an illegal device during the race.

Race officials deemed that Perini had been using an unknown communication device, like a phone or a walky-talky, during the PR1 Men’s Single Sculls event.

Team GB‘s Benjamin Pritchard took the gold medal for the event at the Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium.

Using communications equipment during a race is a violation of the rules, Paris 2024 officials confirmed. Perini has been excluded from the event and ranked last.

Italian officials later confirmed that Perini had forgotten to remove his phone from the boat before the race. 

His mistake elevated Australian rower Erik Horrie, who crossed the finish line in fourth in the men’s PR1 single sculls final, to bronze.

A cheating row has erupted at the Paralympics after an Italian rower Giacomo Perini, 28, (pictured on Friday) was caught with an unknown communication device, like a phone or a walky-talky, during the PR1 Men’s Single Sculls event

Team GB’s Benjamin Pritchard took the gold medal for the event at the Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium

The medalists on the podium for the PR1 Men’s Single Sculls event

Italian officials later confirmed that Perini had forgotten to remove his phone from the boat before the race. Perini has been excluded from the event and ranked last

Paralympics officials launched an investigation into Perini’s alleged cheating after a device was discovered 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 concluded, as stated in a statement to The Sun.

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

Italy’s rowing authority released a statement after the jury’s decision, explaining that Perini had forgotten that his phone was still in the boat. 

The Ferderation said in a statement translated by Instagram: ‘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. 

‘We will shortly provide news of the outcome of the appeal.’

Italy’s Giacomo Perini (pictured in 2022) used a mobile device during the race

The original result saw Benjamin Pritchard launched a dominant British display on the water with PR1 single sculls glory.

The 32-year-old Welshman topped the podium by winning an event mired in controversy in nine minutes 3.84 seconds.

‘For everything to pay off like that and to win in style is pretty special,’ said Pritchard. 

World record holder Roman Polianskyi of Ukraine clinched silver, with Horrie upgraded to bronze after Australian lodged the complaint against Perini.

‘There was a situation that happened,’ Horrie told Nine after the race. 

‘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.

Erik Horrie has won bronze at the Paralympic Games after a controversial rowing final

The Australian finished fourth in the men’s rowing final but was elevated to 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.’

Horrie, who won silvers in London, Rio and Tokyo, was delighted to add a bronze to his collection this year.