Olympic weightlifter, 28, won bronze medal at Paris 2024 ‘while on trial for gang rape of tourist’

ITALIAN Olympic weightlifter Antonino Pizzolato was reportedly connected proceedings for rape during his bronze medal occurrence astatine the Paris Olympics.

Pizzolato, 28, won bronze for his federation successful the Men's 81kg Snatch and Clean and Jerk weightlifting event.

Reports successful Italy person claimed that the two-time Olympian was connected proceedings for pack rape during the Paris games.

It's suggested that Pizzolato's proceedings began good successful beforehand of the Olympics this summertime and has not yet concluded.

Pizzolato is 1 of 4 defendants lasting proceedings accused of raping a 28-year-old Finnish tourer successful Sicily.

The accusations day backmost to July 2022 with Pizzolato and his 3 friends Davide Lupo, Claudio Tutino and Stefano Mongiovi accused of aggravated pack rape aft gathering the unfortunate successful a restaurant.

A tribunal successful Italy heard that the unfortunate had befriended the 4 defendants earlier heading to a nine connected the formation with them and 2 of her friends.

Shen past told the tribunal that she was heavy intoxicated erstwhile she went backmost to the country of 1 of the 4 accused men and was raped by each 4 until she began crying and begged them to stop.

Italian outlet Corriere Della Sera assertion that the victim's relationship has been corroborated by witnesser reports taken by the police.

It's besides claimed that the unfortunate has aesculapian examinations from the infirmary she visited aft reporting the incidental to the police.

The prosecutor's bureau person charged the 4 defendants with the rape of a idiosyncratic "with constricted self-control and successful a authorities of stupor and intelligence inhibition specified arsenic to forestall her from energetically resisting the acts of violence".

Pizzolato has competed successful 2 Olympic games, Tokyo and Paris, winning bronze connected some occasions.

The jock was suspended from the Italian Weightlifting Federation for 10 months successful 2018 aft helium admitted charges of bullying and acting successful a threatening mode towards teammates, astir of whom were minors astatine the time.

While his bronze medal this summertime was shrouded successful contention aft his last assistance effort had beryllium reviewed aft proposition helium had bent his limb successful the lift, thing that should invalidate an attempt.