Australian rowers get late Rio call-up in place of Russia

Australia will field a women's rowing eight in Rio in 10 days after being handed a qualification place following Russia's ejection.

Rio

Women's Eight head out of the start of the repechage during the London Olympic Games, 31 July 2012. Source: AAP

The Australian women's rowing eight have received a late call-up to the Rio Olympics after the Russian team was ejected.

The elevation came after world rowing governing body FISA ruled the Russian crew ineligible on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) for failing to comply with the International Olympic Committee's anti-doping criteria issued after WADA's explosive McLaren report.

One of Russia's crew, Anastasia Karabelshchikova, was banned from competing because of her doping history, leading to the entire boat being ruled ineligible.

Rowing Australia chairman Rob Scott said the decision was a major boost for Australian women's rowing.

"To have more women being given the opportunity to compete at the pinnacle level of their sport will provide the inspiration for others to follow in their footsteps," Scott said.

"Rowing Australia has always been committed to clean and fair competition and we commend FISA on their strong action in response to the recent findings of the McLaren report."

Australia failed to qualify for the Games but were the first reserve for the Rio showpiece which starts next week.

They had reassembled in Melbourne to maintain fitness in the hope of a favourable decision, and will now focus on the getting ready for Brazil.

The team arrives on August 5 before their first heat on August 8.

Australian team boss Kitty Chiller said the Australian Olympic Committee would make their last-minute preparation as seamless as possible.

"Obviously to learn today and jump on a plane in a few days is probably not ideal," Chiller said.

"I'm not sure what they've been training like in the last couple of weeks, but I'm sure adrenaline and the emotion will overtake all of that."

The inclusion means women now outnumber men on Australia's Olympic team for the first time at a summer Games, with 212 females and 207 men competing.

London Olympic canoe slalom silver medallist Jessica Fox, who has been striving for a larger female representation in her sport, said she was delighted.

"To hear the women's eight will be in Rio is fantastic news, and to have a ratio of 50.42 per cent is fantastic," Fox said.

"Women's sport in Australia is really taking off, and female athletes had more recognition in the last couple of years. It's really growing."

Chiller said 35 Russian cheats have been removed from the Games in the last 24 hours, including 22 of the country's 28 rowers.

It showed international federations are "starting to pounce".

"With the athletics team already banned that's a total of 103 Russian cheats who will not competing against our clean athletes in these Games," Chiller said.

Related: Australian Paralympic team head to Rio



 


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3 min read
Published 27 July 2016 9:50am
Updated 27 July 2016 10:20am
Source: AAP


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