Why so many Paralympic athletes got stripped of their medals

At the 2024 Paralympic Games, several athletes got stripped of their hard-earned medals, but why?

The Paralympic Games can come with many more technical rules than the Olympic Games, with athletes requiring extra help to compete to the highest level in their sport.

With more technical rules comes more ways for athletes to be disqualified, leaving athletes in devastation even if they never meant to break the rules in the first place.

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Australian Paralympic runner Jaryd Clifford was stripped of his bronze medal in the men's T13 5000m final, a category for athletes with visual impairments.

The New York Post reported that runners and guides must hold the tether, a 20-inch-long band with handles on both ends, until the end of the race.

The International Paralympic Committee ruled that Clifford let go of the band, binding him to his guide, Matt Clarke, for the second part of the race before crossing the finish line.

According to the Bored Panda website, Clifford said: "They give everything for me out there. That's ****. I can't see how they DQ'd us, but I'm sure there's a reason, which makes me nervous."

The runner reflected on his Instagram account: "I'm absolutely devastated that we made such a critical mistake out there today. Remaining tethered is a fundamental rule in guiding, and I'm shattered that I lost my mind in those final meters."

The Aussie Paralympic star wasn't the only athlete to miss out on a medal because of specific rules and regulations. Polish star Roza Kozakowska was stripped of a gold medal after a record-breaking showing in the women's club throw F32 event at the Games.

After registering a world record with a throw of 31.30m in her first attempt, her gold medal celebration was cut short after the Brazilian contingent lodged a complaint regarding her equipment.

The IPC ruled that the Polish athlete's pillow, which supported her head during the event, contravened regulations due to its size. The Polish Paralympic Committee appealed, but it was unsuccessful.

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The Mirror US reported that the Polish Paralympic Committee said, "Unfortunately, its decision was unfavourable for us. We take this ruling into account; such are the laws of sport and its rigorous procedures; we have to reckon with them."

Italian Paralympic rower Giacomo Perini was stripped of his bronze medal after finishing third in the PR1 Men's Single Sculls event.

Perini was excluded from the official race results following an investigation that found an "unknown communication device" during the race.

According to the Mirror, Paris 2024 officials confirmed that using a mobile device or a walky-talky during the race violates race rules, giving enough evidence to strip Perini of his medal.

Italy's rowing authorities released a statement after Perini was disqualified, confirming that he had forgotten to remove his phone from the boat before the race.

"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, Byelaw of rule 28. Consequently, the crew was excluded from the event and is classified last."

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