Giacomo Perini disqualified from Paralympics for racing with phone

Giacomo Perini, an Italian rower, faced disqualification from the PR1 men’s single sculls event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics after a mobile phone was discovered on his boat. Despite finishing third and initially celebrating a bronze medal, the oversight led to a ruling by World Rowing that he violated competition rules regarding communication equipment. Perini argued that he did not use the phone during the race and that it was merely an oversight, as he had left it in a bag with a water bottle. The specific rule in question prohibits any communication with crew members from outside the boat using electronic devices. Perini contended that the rules did not explicitly ban bringing a phone onto the boat, only its use for communication. He provided evidence to the jury, showing that the last call on the phone was made the night before the race, indicating he had not used it during the competition. Following the disqualification, the Italian Rowing Federation attempted to appeal the decision, but their appeal was rejected. They are now preparing to escalate the matter to the World Rowing Executive Board for further consideration. This incident has not only affected Perini's standing in the competition but also raised questions about the clarity of the rules governing equipment in rowing events. As a result of Perini's disqualification, Erik Horrie from Australia was promoted to the bronze medal position, while Benjamin Pritchard of Britain and Roman Polianskyi of Ukraine secured gold and silver, respectively. The situation highlights the strict enforcement of competition rules and the potential consequences of even minor oversights in high-stakes sporting events.