The disqualification of a Paralympic athlete due to an apparent mistake has sparked a debate among onlookers.
The Paris 2024 Paralympics commenced last week, and Team USA has already secured 33 medals as of the current moment.
Team USA is currently in third place on the medal table, trailing behind Great Britain and China.
Italy, on the other hand, has accumulated 20 medals so far—a figure some argue should be 21.
On Sunday, September 1, Italian rower Giacomo Perini finished third in the men’s PR1 single sculls final but was later disqualified for a surprising reason.
It was discovered that Perini had his cell phone in his boat during the race, which is against the regulations.
World Rowing issued a statement saying: “In the final of the PR1 men’s singles, the Italian athlete was found to be using communications equipment during the race, in violation of rule 28 and Appendix R2, Bye-Law of rule 28.”
The 28-year-old athlete claimed it was a mistake and that the device was not used during the race, but he was still stripped of his bronze medal.
Perini explained to ANSA: “They didn’t ‘find’ me simply because I never used the mobile phone on the boat. 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.”
The specific rule states that ‘no communication with the crew is permitted from outside the boat using electric or electronic equipment’.
Following Perini’s mistake, Australian rower Erik Horrie was promoted from fourth place.
The Italian Rowing Federation announced its intentions to file an official appeal against the decision on Instagram yesterday.
The Federation stated: “The Federation is proceeding with an official claim, providing the phone records of Perini, who is only guilty of having forgotten it on the boat. We will soon give news of the outcome of the appeal.”
After reviewing the appeal, the Board of the Jury upheld the decision to disqualify Perini, as confirmed by World Rowing.
The disqualification has left sports fans split, especially in light of Perini’s statement that he did not use the cell phone during the race.
One commenter on Instagram wrote: “The important thing is that it wasn’t in use, at least in my opinion.”
Another person questioned: “I can understand if there had been irregularities on the boat but what advantage can a cell phone locked in a bag give?”
However, some argued that the rules regarding electronic devices are explicit.
A social media user remarked: “Well, even if you just forgot it in your bag, the rules are clear: it is forbidden to carry electronic devices with you, even if they are not in use.”