Paralympic swimmer disqualified over Olympic rings tattoo

MADEIRA, Portugal – Paralympic swimming champion Josef Craig was disqualified from a race at the IPC European Championships for failing to cover up a tattoo of the Olympic rings.

The English teenager made it through the first heat of a 100-meter race in Madeira but was prevented from competing in Sunday’s final because a tattoo on the left side of his chest breached regulations related to advertising.

The IPC said “neither the athlete nor the team protested the decision,” adding that Craig competed again on Monday with the tattoo covered up.

The 19-year-old 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.