British Rowing is committed to a culture that is safe, inclusive, supportive, and protected. When a concern arises which goes against the rules or the values of British Rowing it’s important it is dealt with properly.

We have several mechanisms for raising concerns,  click the link below for more information.

Report a Concern

The Board has the power under the Articles to make and enforce rules and regulations concerning all forms and aspects of Rowing. This includes the power to establish disciplinary and complaints processes and impose sanctions in respect of the breach of any rules and regulations relating to Rowing.

The Board has in relation to any Club, Competition or Registered Individual, the power to order any measures that are recommended to it by the Disciplinary and Grievance Panel or the Case Management Group.

Disciplinary Matters: the Disciplinary and Grievance Panel

The Board has established the Disciplinary and Grievance Panel to ensure that British Rowing handles complaints, grievances and disciplinary matters fairly and efficiently.

The Board has designated the Disciplinary and Grievance Panel to be the dispute resolution body in respect of certain specified disputes, as detailed and explained in the British Rowing Regulations. The Disciplinary and Grievance Panel shall have the power, in relation to matters where it acts as the relevant dispute resolution body, to require that parties to a dispute participate and give evidence, and provide documents or other evidence.

The Disciplinary and Grievance Panel shall have the power impose sanctions that may include but shall not be limited to:

• ordering any party to pay some or all of the out-of-pocket expenses of the other party (but not any legal or other professional costs) to the relevant dispute; and/or
• ordering any party to pay the costs incurred by the Disciplinary and Grievance Panel
• recommending to any Club that a Registered Individual who is a member of that Club be suspended from membership of that Club or that membership be terminated;
• recommending to the Board that the rights enjoyed by a Registered Individual be suspended or that the Registered Individual shall have those rights terminated;
• recommending to the Board that a Club or Competition be suspended as an Affiliated Member of British Rowing or that the Club or Competition’s status as an Affiliated Member be terminated;
• recommending to the Board that appropriate measures be undertaken to give effect to any suspension.

An Affiliated Member, Registered Individual or any other relevant body or individual against whom an order has been made by the Board shall comply with the terms of that order including any full or partial suspension from any part of any activity controlled by British Rowing or any other activity within the sport.

The Board may if it believes that a sanction imposed by it might have any effect on international competition or competition in another country, report that sanction to World Rowing for recognition world-wide and, in the case of foreign nationals, to their country of origin.

Disciplinary Matters: Safeguarding

The Board has established the Case Management Group to ensure that British Rowing responds quickly and efficiently in relation to matters that arise in relation to the British Rowing Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and Safeguarding Adults Policy.

The Case Management Group shall have all the powers detailed within the British Rowing Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and Safeguarding Adults Policy.

An Affiliated Member, Registered Individual or any other relevant body or individual against whom an order has been made by the Case Management Group shall comply with the terms of that order including any full or partial suspension from any part of any activity controlled by British Rowing or any other activity within the sport.

The National Competition Committee

The Board has designated the National Competition Committee to be the dispute resolution body in respect of certain specified disputes, as detailed and explained in the British Rowing Rules of Racing.

The National Competition Committee shall have the power to impose sanctions as detailed and explained in the British Rowing Rules of Racing.

Anyone wishing to submit a grievance to British Rowing should follow the link to an online form below. The online Grievance Form is preceded by guidance notes which should be read in full and then the form itself will follow.

Grievance Form

You have the right to appeal against a decision in certain circumstances; an appeal of a regional dispute decision, a British Rowing investigating officer decision, or a Disciplinary and Grievance panel decision. The link below provides guidance to making an appeal along with an online form if you wish to make an appeal against a decision. Please note that a Notice of Appeal form must be completed and submitted to British Rowing within twenty-one (21) days of the date of the decision.

Appeal Form

Name: Mr. Christopher Bailey

Rule Violated: World Rowing Anti-Doping Bye-Laws

Start Date of Sanction: 25/04/2022

End Date of Sanction: 24/04/2026

Statement from British Rowing

Name: Mr.  Alex Turnbull

Rule violated: British Rowing’s Safeguarding and Protecting Children Policy

Start date of sanction: 18/03/2022

End date of sanction: 17/03/2032

Statement from British Rowing

Name: Mr. Andrew Cook

Rule Violated: British Rowing’s Safeguarding and Protecting Children Guidance

Start Date of Sanction: 05/06/2020

End Date of Sanction: 04/06/2030 (providing specified conditions are met)

Statement from British Rowing

Name: Mr. Andrew Strachan

Rule violated: World Rowing Anti-Doping Bye-Laws

Start date of sanction: 20/03/2020

End date of sanction: 19/03/2024

Statement from British Rowing

Name: Mr. Matthew Hackett

Rule violated: British Rowing’s Safeguarding and Protecting Children Guidance

Start date of sanction: 26/08/2016

End date of sanction: Until the conditions of  reinstatement have been satisfied

Statement from British Rowing