Paralympics rower stripped of his medal after breaking little-known rule

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. We will shortly provide news of the outcome of the appeal."

Team GB's Benjamin Pritchard won gold in the event and it was Australian rower Erik Horrie who was bumped up to third following Perini's rule breach.

He explained the situation after the event to Nine , saying: "There was a situation that happened. 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."