ROME/SINGAPORE (dpa): Italian swimmers Benedetta Pilato and Chiara Tarantino have been suspended for 90 days with immediate effect by the national federation FIN in connection with a shoplifting incident at Singapore airport in August.
The FIN said the length of the suspension was based on their cooperation on the issue and their admission of responsibility. No further details on the case were given.
Italian news reports said that Pilato and Tarantino went on holiday to Bali after the world championships in Singapore where Pilato won a 50 metres breaststroke bronze medal.
They had a stopover in Singapore upon their return, and according to Italian news reports Tarantino was caught by security cameras putting bottles of essential oil into Pilato's bag in an airport duty free shop.
The two were briefly detained but could then return to Italy with the assistance of the Italian embassy.
Pilato reportedly told the authorities they had believed the bottles were samples given out for free.
The suspension means both swimmers will miss the European short course championships in Poland this December.
Pilato, who won world breaststroke gold in Budapest in 2022, addressed the incident on social media. "From this experience, I draw great lessons on prudence, individual responsibility, and the value of the people around me," she wrote.
She also claimed she had been "involved (in this theft) independently of (her) will." - dpa
