British Paralympic star disqualified over tattoo earns measure of revenge at European Championships
Britain's youngest gold medallist at London 2012 bounced back from a tattoo row to claim silver at the International Paralympic Committee European Swimming Championships on Monday night.
Josef Craig, 19, from Jarrow in South Tyneside, was banned from Sunday’s S8 100m freestyle final despite winning his heat because he failed to hide a tattoo of the Olympic rings on his chest.
But Craig, sporting a cover on the logo, which rules decree is tantamount to advertising and therefore prohibited, finished second behind countryman Oliver Hynd in the S8 400m freestyle in Madeira.
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An IPC spokesperson said: “Body advertising is not allowed in any way whatsoever and that includes the Olympic rings. The athlete did not wear a cover and was therefore disqualified.
“All teams are informed of the advertising policy at a technical meeting prior to competition so it wasn't as if they had not been reminded about the rules.”
Craig, who has cerebral palsy, set two world records on his way to winning a pair of gold medals at the London 2012 Paralympics, aged just 15. He is also set to compete in the S8 50m freestyle on Saturday.