Italian rower disqualified for using telephone

Italian Paralympic rower Giacomo Perini was disqualified from the PRI men's single sculls final and missed out on a bronze medal on Sept 1 for using "communication equipment".

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Perini, 28, who had his right leg amputated due to bone cancer, crossed the line in Paris in third place before Australian Erik Horrie was eventually handed the bronze medal.

Britain's Ben Pritchard took gold and Ukraine's two-time champion Roman Polianskyi claimed silver.

World Rowing said Perini "was found to be using communication equipment during the race".

"As a result, the crew has been excluded from the event and will be ranked last," it added.

World Rowing told AFP the Italian team have appealed the decision and a reaction from the international governing body was expected by the end of the day.

Welshman Pritchard, 32, claimed Perini had a telephone in his boat in a race where athletes row with their backs to the finish line.

"He had an open phone on in the boat and you're not allowed communication like that,” Pritchard said.