Meet our new iRowClean Ambassadors
British Rowing is delighted to spotlight our three Clean Sport Ambassadors, Graeme Thomas, Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne and Jacob Dawson
As part of our commitment to Clean Sport we are proud to introduce our three Clean Sport Ambassadors, Graeme Thomas, Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne and Jacob Dawson.
Both Jacob and Graeme are on the GB Rowing Team senior men’s squad having progressed through the Start talent identification programmes and Charlotte is a double U23 champion sculler on the GB Rowing Team senior women’s squad.
Jacqui Traynor, British Rowing’s Anti-Doping and Integrity Manager, said: “Graeme, Charlotte and Jacob are incredible athletes and advocates. We hope that the power of their voices will encourage and inspire more athletes, coaches, and parents of junior athletes to fully embrace the principles of clean sport while supporting us to ensure the integrity of rowing is protected, and free from doping behaviours.”
British Rowing’s Clean Sport Strategy 2021–2026 outlines our key objectives including developing a stronger support network and maximising the influence key individuals and ambassadors can have within rowing.
“Sport should be fair and honest”
Graeme, Charlotte and Jacob will be joining the Clean Sport team at selected workshops and outreach opportunities to share their experiences and advice to athletes who may be just starting out in rowing.
Graeme said: “When I joined the World Class Start programme in 2009 I felt that I was finally part of a sporting community that genuinely wanted to prevent, educate and protect sporting integrity and stop the use of prohibited substances.
“This powerful and positive experience which I now reflect on, drives me to become a Clean Sport Ambassador for British Rowing.”
Jacob said: “I want to reach out to the next generation of rowers, from elite to amateur. Make sure they can be armed with knowledge from the moment they pick up an oar, to be informed, and allow them to be able to assess the risk, assess the need and assess the consequences for themselves.”
“Sport should be fair and honest,” added Charlotte. “As an elite athlete I want to race against clean opposition, and I believe I have a responsibility to help keep my sport free from doping and to raise awareness around the anti-doping values.”
Since the Code change on 1 January 2021, 29 sessions have been delivered online to over 550 rowers and rower support personnel. British Rowing ensures that all athletes and athlete support personnel on a talent pathway – and all British Rowing staff – receive tutor-led education, but there are other options for everyone in rowing including our iRowClean Online Modules.
iRowClean Webinar on 24 June
Sign up to our iRowClean Webinar on 24 June covering the fundamentals of Clean Sport, and the changes to the Code, taking place on Thursday 24 June at 19:30 – 20:45. You can sign up here.
