Paralympic rower loses medal after being caught with ‘communications equipment’ in boat

A scandal over cheating erupted during the Paralympic Games after an Italian rower was stripped of his bronze medal for allegedly using a device resembling a walkie-talkie during his final.

Giacomo Perini was disqualified after being caught with an unknown communication device during the PR1 Men’s Single Scull event.

Race rules state that all forms of communication equipment are prohibited, but in a bizarre twist, Italian officials later claimed that Perini had forgotten to remove his phone from the boat before the race.

The 28-year-old was nevertheless disqualified from the event and finished last, leaving Australian rower Erik Horrie in the bronze medal position. Britain’s Benjamin Pritchard won gold at the event in Vaires-sur-Marne.

Immediately after the device was found in Perini’s boat, Paralympic officials launched an investigation into Perini’s alleged cheating.

“In the PR1 M1x final it was determined that the ITA PR1 MRX was using communication 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 disqualified from the event and will be ranked last.”

The Italian Rowing Federation has promised to appeal the decision. “The federation is proceeding with an official claim and providing Perini’s phone details, which he is solely responsible for leaving on the boat,” the organization said in a statement. “We will announce the outcome of the appeal shortly.”

Australian Horrie, who won silver medals in London, Rio and Tokyo, gave his own version of events shortly after the race, saying he was happy to add a bronze medal to his collection.

“There was a situation that happened,” he explained to Australian TV channel Nine. “World Rowing and Paralympics officials saw it and made the decision (to disqualify Perini) and I was fortunate to come away with bronze.

“That’s all I can say, really. It’s the joy of sport. There are rules and as athletes we abide by them. I’m just excited about winning bronze. I’m at my fourth Games and I can say that I’ve won a medal at every Paralympic Games I’ve been to.”