Italian Paralympic Archery World Champion Matteo Bonacina Arrested in Sexual Abuse Probe

The world of Paralympic sport is reeling following the arrest of Matteo Bonacina, a decorated Italian archer and former world champion, who now faces severe allegations of sexual abuse, stalking, and psychological harassment of his teammates.

Bonacina, 41, has been placed under house arrest by authorities in Rome. The charges stem from a prolonged pattern of behavior targeting female members of the Italian National Paralympic Archery Team, including several minors and a coach, between 2019 and 2024.

For those following the sport, Bonacina was a towering figure in the compound open specialist W2 class, having secured the individual world championship title in 2023 and represented Italy at the Rio, Tokyo, and Paris Paralympics. However, the prestige of his athletic record is now overshadowed by a legal case that describes a systemic culture of fear within the national squad.

A ‘Climate of Terror’ in the National Team

The gravity of the allegations is reflected in the language used by the Italian judiciary. In the arrest warrant, a preliminary investigations judge noted that Bonacina’s conduct did more than just harass individuals; it established a “climate of terror” among the athletes and coaches of the national team, causing widespread agitation, discomfort, and fear.

According to reports from ANSA, the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office launched its investigation after the Italian Archery Federation took the step of banning Bonacina last year. That ban followed a sporting trial into his conduct, suggesting that the federation was aware of behavioral issues long before the criminal arrest took place.

The investigation covers a five-year window, alleging that Bonacina severely harassed at least five female athletes. The inclusion of minors among the victims adds a significant layer of legal severity to the proceedings.

Disturbing Allegations from the Paris Games

While the abuse reportedly spanned several years, some of the most harrowing details emerge from the 2024 Paris Paralympics. The investigation suggests that the Games, intended to be the pinnacle of an athlete’s career, were instead a site of further trauma for some members of the Italian delegation.

Reports citing the daily newspaper la Repubblica indicate that Bonacina allegedly demanded a red thong from a female teammate to serve as a “good-luck charm” for the competition. Even more severe is the allegation that during the Games, Bonacina attempted to rape another female Italian athlete in his hotel room. He is accused of sending intimate images to women on the team.

These details paint a picture of an athlete who allegedly used his status and position within the team to exert power and control over his colleagues in an environment where they should have felt safest.

Institutional Failure and the Technical Director

The scandal extends beyond the actions of a single athlete, raising critical questions about oversight and the protection of athletes within the Italian Paralympic framework. The Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office is not only pursuing Bonacina but has also placed the national team’s technical director under investigation.

The technical director is being scrutinized for an alleged failure to stop the abuse. In high-performance sports, the power imbalance between a world champion and junior athletes or support staff can be immense. When leadership fails to intervene—or ignores warning signs—it can effectively enable a predator to operate with impunity.

The fact that the Italian Archery Federation banned Bonacina last year indicates that a sporting mechanism for discipline existed, but the current criminal proceedings suggest that the sporting response may have been insufficient or too late to prevent the alleged incidents in Paris.

The Profile of a Fallen Champion

To understand the shock this has sent through the archery community, one must look at Bonacina’s standing in the sport. As a W2 class compound specialist, he was one of Italy’s most reliable medal threats. His 2023 world title cemented him as a global leader in his discipline.

In the world of Paralympic sport, where athletes often overcome immense physical adversity to reach the elite level, the betrayal of trust by a peer is particularly devastating. The psychological abuse mentioned in the Agenzia Nova report suggests a pattern of manipulation that likely impacted the performance and mental well-being of multiple athletes over half a decade.

As a journalist who has covered the Olympic and Paralympic movements for over 15 years, I have seen how “winning at all costs” can sometimes create blind spots for governing bodies. When an athlete brings home world championships, there is often a tendency to overlook “difficult” personalities. This case serves as a grim reminder that athletic success is never a license for abuse.

The Italian legal system now faces the task of parsing through five years of testimony to determine the full extent of Bonacina’s actions. For the victims, the transition from a sporting ban to a criminal arrest marks a pivotal shift toward accountability.

The next confirmed checkpoint in this case will be the further findings from the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office as they move from the preliminary investigation phase toward a formal trial. We will continue to monitor the proceedings and the response from the Italian Paralympic Committee.

What are your thoughts on the responsibility of national federations in protecting athletes from peer-on-peer abuse? Let us know in the comments below.