London's Boat Race was marred with controversy after it had forbidden post -university students to compete this year in this year's event.
The age -old rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge descended in chaos after a decision to prevent three students from participating in the rowing competition after the graduate, including a former world champion.
Oxford University, who lost both the races for men and the ladies in 2024 and 2023, had challenged the requirements of eligible for students who studied a postdoctoral certificate in education in a movement that was branded 'slimy' and 'desperate'.
PGCE students are those who train teachers as part of a post diploma. The new rules state that those who compete more than 12 years earlier must have started a 'degree level of qualification', with the exception of those who study a PGCE.
It is not surprising that it is not the first time that the world -famous race, which will take place in the southwest of London in less than a month, is flooded in a tense row about the age of its competitors.
In 2019, the former Olympic rower James Cracknell became the oldest competitor who participated in the competition in almost 200 years of history, at the age of 46.
While he is twice as old as most university students, Cracknell – who won gold in 2000 in 2000 in Sydney and in 2004 – started a master's degree in Cambridge in 2018, which means that he was eligible to enter the race.
The new suitability criteria are 'jointly agreed' by Oxford University Boat Club (OUBC) and Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC) and apparently wants to prevent 'ringers on elite level' such as cracknell.
London's Boat Race was marred with controversy after it had forbidden post -university students to compete this year in this year's event. Shown: Cambridge University Rowers celebrate after winning the 169th men's boat race last year
Oxford -Students look tense while encouraging the men's rowing team during the 2024 boat race on the River Theems
Former Olympic James Cracknell Rower is celebrating with his medal after he has become the oldest competitor to participate in the competition in almost 200 years of history, at the age of 46
Olympic lightweight double sculls gold medal winner Imogen Grant, who won the Women's Boat Race with Cambridge in 2017, 2018 and 2022, revealed its indignation about the decision earlier this week.
She wrote on Instagram: 'Oxford has forbidden PGCE students this year by racing the boot race.
As you can imagine, I sing. This is an insult to teachers everywhere and a desperate trick from Oxford to get a prevention in the most slimy way.
'I do not believe that this reflects on the current Oxford team, which also had to train this uncertainty throughout the year. I believe that this is completely due to select individuals under the alumni that have a narrow, outdated image of who rides Bootraces. '
In the meantime, Cath Bishop, another graduated Cambridge and Olympic Coxless Pair -Zilveren, claimed medal winner, that the decision was 'extreme madness'.
She wrote: 'Excessive madness in the boat race world … and a new layer in relationships between Oxford and Cambridge Boat Clubs.
'A crying shame for every student who has trained his heart to be a pawn in the small disputes that the clubs consistently fight to get one on each other.
“The best students have to race to create the fastest boats and fight it on the water.”
Olympic lightweight double sculls gold medal winner Imogen Grant (left with teammate Emily Craig), won the women's boat race with Cambridge in 2017, 2018 and 2022
Cath Bishop (left with teammate Katherine Grainger) Another graduated Cambridge and Olympic Coxless Pair -Zilvermedaillinner, claimed that the decision was 'utter madness'
Former world champion under the 23 Men Matt Heywood, 2023 and 2024 Women's reservist Molly Foxell and 2023 Reservist and 2024 Lightweight Cox Kate Crowley are all prohibited as a result of their courses.
Heywood, who won silver at the World Rowing Championships 2022, said he had trained all year with the hope of competing in the race 'Based on precedent as recently as last year that PGCE students have raced for both clubs'.
He added: 'It is safe to say that this decision does not match any values ​​of sportiness or racing spirit that I have known in rowing, and that I feel discouraged by the broader implications of this decision about my future calling.
'I applied for the PGCE because I am passionate about inspiring and supporting young people. I want to become a teacher. I am excited to start that career in September and look forward to what the future has in store.
“This was meant as my last race. The 15-year-old I, who grew up at the Thames and learned to row at his local club, could never have dreamed of how happy he would be to experience incredible moments thanks to this sport. It is a pity that it ends this way, but I have a lot to be grateful for.
The Boat Race Company said in a statement: 'We sympathize with each athlete disappointed about the crew selection for the boot race.
'This is an extremely competitive process and there are strict (publicly available) eligible criteria to be eligible for a place in a crew. These criteria are jointly agreed by the two competing clubs, without the involvement of BRCL or a third party.
Likewise, both clubs agree with the existence and the ultimate authority of an independent interpretation panel to provide statements about any disputes or to clarify the rules where necessary.
Cambridge led Oxford towards the end of the Boot Race for Heren 2014
Cambridge beat Oxford to claim the Double Double for men and ladies last year
Cambridge defeated Oxford last year in both men's and women's races
'The clubs are signatories of a joint agreement and agree to be bound by a statement from the interpretation panel without further use.
'We hope that every decision of the interpretation panel (IP) will be respected and accepted, and is not publicly discussed, especially because the IP assignment has been agreed by the clubs. The panel consists of a chair, two representatives from both clubs and two academics.
“We look forward to the clubs that race on Sunday, April 13, where the intense rivalry is best seen on the water.”
After last year's brutal race, where Oxford lost in both men's and women's races, Oxford captain Leonard Jenkins revealed that different members of their team had been hit by E. Coli.
He told the BBC at the time 'that it would be a lot nicer if there was not as much shit in the water', after dangerously high levels of the bacteria in Thames were found by Hammersmith Bridge.
E. Coli can cause a series of serious infections and other side effects and rowers were told prior to the race not to enter the Thames.
The seven seats of Oxford, Leonard Jenkins, had previously revealed to the BBC that he and various crew members were plagued by what he burned an E. Coli-related disease, his Cox was reluctant to immediately blame the bacteria.
Subsequently, the race was flooded in 2023 in a row after a biological man came out, was part of the female boot race team of Cambridge University.
Sarah Gibsonwho identifies itself as a non-binary, was described in 2018 by Stonewall as' the first open trans-person who competes in [the race’s] 187-year-old history '.
Gibson's admission to the women's team led to a recoil, with retired British Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies who said it was 'wrong' to compete her.
Years earlier there had been a similar commotion after a member of the Oxford team Cambridge accused of 'effective cheating' by allowing 6ft 5 in German rowing and gold medal from the Thorsten Engelmann world championship to compete.
In 2007 he stroked Cambridge for victory, giving them a lead of 79-73 in the series, but a few days later ended his economic diploma course and returned to Germany, which caused a bitter dispute about the validity of the result.
The words war even returns in 1877, when the race was declared a dead heat, in which both Oxford and Cambridge ended in 24 minutes and 8 seconds.
It was thought that the Oxford team had wondered if Race judge John Phelps – who was older than 70 and blind in one eye – was fit enough to explain a winner after he was drunk and fell asleep under a bush at the end of the race.
However, this account was punished by historians who claim that it was' not true ', despite other seemingly reliable sources' that repeated and embellished' different versions of this story '.
