Paralympic swimmer Josef Craig barred from race over Olympic rings tattoo
By Claire Corkery
Last Updated: 02/05/16 4:20pm
Paralympic champion Josef Craig was disqualified from racing at the IPC European Championships on Sunday for failing to cover up his tattoo of the Olympic rings.
The 19-year-old from Jarrow, South Tyneside, made it through the first heat of the men's S8 100 metres but was prevented from competing in the final because the tattoo - on the left side of his chest- breached regulations related to advertising.
An IPC spokesman 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, won two gold medals at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, where he set two new world records at the age of 15.
He has subsequently returned to the pool in Madeira wearing a cover over the offending tattoo, and is still due to compete in 50m and 400m events this week.
The Olympic rings are exclusively owned by the International Olympic Committee and cannot be used without the IOC's consent.
