Overview

• Airport CCTV reportedly showed Chiara Tarantino placing perfumery or essential‑oil bottles in Benedetta Pilato’s bag, leading to their detention on August 14 and return to Italy on August 20.
• The Italian embassy in Singapore, coordinated by ambassador Dante Brandi and his deputy, handled consular assistance and secured the athletes’ release, according to Farnesina sources.
• Farnesina officials told ANSA that Tajani’s office was informed but no direct action by the minister was required, countering earlier media accounts of his personal intervention.
• Pilato posted that she had no intent to commit wrongdoing and was “indirectly involved,” while Tarantino has remained silent and deactivated her social media accounts.
• Reports say teammates Anita Bottazzo and Sofia Morini were also stopped, with Bottazzo allegedly subjected to a strip search before both were released; Tarantino’s Fiamme Gialle affiliation may prompt separate review.