An unexpected scandal rocks the Italian women's swimming team... and the reason is "perfume"

An unexpected scandal                                                                        

An unexpected scandal rocks the Italian women's swimming team... and the reason is "perfume"

Two members of the Italian swimming team that participated in the recent World Championships in Singapore, Benedetta Pilato and Chiara Tarantino, spent a night in jail on charges of stealing perfume. The incident, confirmed by the Italian Swimming Federation, occurred in a store at Changi International Airport and was described by the media as an "unexpected scandal."

Benedetta Pilato, 20, is one of the rising stars in the world of swimming. She won the 100m world gold medal in Budapest in 2022 at the age of just 17, placed fourth at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and won a bronze medal in the 50m breaststroke in Singapore. Pilato was returning from a vacation in Bali, Indonesia, with her teammate, Chiara Tarantino. The incident occurred during a layover at Singapore Airport, and airport security detained them after reviewing CCTV footage.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the footage shows Chiara Tarantino placing a bottle of perfume in her teammate, Benedetta Pilato's, bag, prompting the intervention of airport authorities.

The two swimmers were handcuffed and spent a night in detention. However, the Italian embassy in Singapore quickly intervened to prevent the case from escalating, as the Asian country's strict penal code provides for imprisonment of up to three years for such incidents, according to Italian reports. The investigation into the swimmers concluded with a formal warning and no criminal charges, and they were able to return to Italy on August 20.

The Italian Swimming Federation stated that the incident occurred during their personal vacation and outside of official activities following the World Championships, but issued a strongly worded statement condemning the incident. Cesare Bottini, the Italian swimming team coach, frankly expressed his disappointment: "We are deeply saddened by this behavior. It benefits no one and undoubtedly tarnishes the image of the sport."

Benedetta Pilato took to her Instagram account to share her story, saying she had experienced particularly difficult times away from home. She added: "I fully cooperated with the local authorities and received the full support of the Italian embassy. I never intended to act inappropriately, and those who know me know how much I value sportsmanship and personal integrity." Meanwhile, Chiara Tarantino has closed her social media accounts.