Paralympic Rower Giacomo Perini Accused Of Cheating, Stripped Of Bronze Medal

Paralympic rower Giacomo Perini has been accused of cheating and has lost his bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Games. The disqualification reportedly stemmed from a minor, easily avoidable error.

Following a memorable and fierce battle, Perini secured third place and a bronze medal, but while celebrations were underway, it was revealed that the Jury decided to disqualify him from the Paralympic podium in the PR1 single category.

The 28-year-old Italian athlete allegedly used an unauthorized device during the PR1 Men's Single Sculls event, a violation that led to Giacomo Perini's disqualification from the competition.

Officials reported that Perini failed to remove his cell phone from his boat before the race, a mistake that ultimately cost him his bronze medal.

"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 Italian Rowing Federation said in a statement shared on Instagram.

The Federation also shared a statement on its website:

"The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games ended with a bitter taste in the mouth for the Italian pararowers. On the last day of competition at the Stade Nautique in Vaires-sur-Marne, Giacomo Perini was the protagonist of an extraordinary final in the men's PR1 single, which saw him finish in third place after having been in the lead until halfway through the race.

At the end of the race, however, he was excluded by the Race Judge who, after checking Perini's bag where he had placed water and personal items, noticed the presence of the smartphone that he had inadvertently forgotten to put down.

The exclusion occurred based on the regulation that prohibits the presence on the boat of instruments capable of communicating with the outside. The Italian Rowing Federation promptly presented an appeal that was rejected by the Board of Jury, and is now preparing to challenge the decision by arguing to the Executive Board of World Rowing."

Following the disqualification, Perini explained that it was an oversight, as he had left his phone in a small bag on the boat, which also contained a bottle of water. He disagreed with the statement's wording, insisting that he was not in breach of the rules.

“They didn’t ‘find’ me simply because I never used the mobile phone on the boat,” Perini told ANSA, per The Independent. “I gave the phone to the jury so that they could see that the last call was from the night before, with the psychologist."

He added, “The rules do not say that you cannot bring the phone, but that you cannot communicate.”

As a result of these events, Australian rower Erik Horrie was promoted to third place, earning the bronze medal. Roman Polianskyi of Ukraine claimed the silver medal, while Benjamin Pritchard of Team Great Britain took home the gold.

“There was a situation that happened,” Horrie told 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.”

"I'm just excited about getting the bronze," he added. "I'm at my fourth Games and I can say that I've medalled at every single Paralympics that I've been to."

Horrie was thrilled to add a bronze medal to his collection, which already includes three silvers from the London, Rio, and Tokyo Games.

"Mate, this means so much," he said of taking home the bronze. "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."

"So, this is for [my wife] Michelle and the kids back home," he added. "It's one of those things that's hard to explain."