Rowing Column:Three rowers have been suspended because of doping offences. Fisa, the world governing body for the sport, announced yesterday three members of the Russian senior eight were found to have used intravenous infusion equipment at the World Cup in Lucerne last year.
Although they were not found to have used a banned substance, intravenous infusion is banned under World Anti-Doping Agency rules. The three, Alexander Litvintchev, Evgeny Luzyanin and Ivan Podshivalov, will serve a two-year ban running from August 2007.
This means the place booked by the Russian eight in Beijing now goes to Australia, and Russia will have to send a crew to the Olympic Qualifiers in Poland in June if they are to to book a place in Beijing for their eight.
Three other Russian rowers were also banned last year for similar offences. The ploy came to light when a member of the public discovered infusion equipment in a bin outside the Russian team hotel. Fisa had DNA tests done and tracked down the six, who are now suspended.
The timing of the Olympic Qualifiers has left the Ireland team with a quandary: boats for Beijing will have to be sent before a place is landed. Ireland have real hopes in the men's lightweight four and single scull (Seán Jacob). A men's heavyweight pair and a lightweight women's double could also compete in the qualifiers.
Ireland team manager Mike Heskin is in talks with the Irish Sports Council for funds to cover the additional expenses this year. The funding on the table is down on the figure for last year, even though there is a much heavier programme of camps outside the country in the run-up to Beijing.
The heavyweight men, under head coach Harald Jahrling, head off for a two-week camp in St Cassien today, while the lightweight men and women, under John Holland, are in a camp in Seville in Spain which began on January 4th and runs until this Sunday.
Tim Harnedy's hopes of making the lightweight squad have all but disappeared. It is understood he will not be sufficiently recovered from injury to do boatwork until next month.
Sam Lynch spent some time in Seville before Christmas, but he is also extremely unlikely to play any part in the international system this year.
Ireland's interest in Atlantic rowing goes beyond the stirring feats of the crew of La Mondiale. Ian McGlade and his Scottish crew-mate Andy Watson are making steady progress in the Atlantic Rowing Race. They are set to break the psychological barrier of 1,000 nautical miles to go to Antigua today.
