The 170th Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge is set to take place this Sunday amid unprecedented controversy.
Three Cambridge rowers have been banned from competing following a bitter eligibility dispute between the universities.
Relations between the historic rivals have deteriorated to the point where one of the reserve races has been cancelled entirely.
The controversy has erupted before a single stroke has been taken on the Thames.
Three rowers have been banned ahead of the 2025 Boat Race
PA
The dispute centres on three Cambridge rowers: Matt Heywood, Molly Foxell and Kate Cowley.
Oxford claimed they were ineligible because they are trainee teachers studying for the PGCE, which is a certificate rather than a degree.
This is despite the fact that PGCE students have competed in the Boat Race previously.
The matter was ultimately referred to an independent panel, which ruled against the Cambridge rowers.
Former Cambridge rower and Olympic gold medallist Imogen Grant described the situation as unprecedented in its severity.
"As a Cambridge alum this year from the outside looking in, it felt like this year was different," she said.
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"A new level of aggression from Oxford, to be perfectly honest."
Grant added: "There have been quibbles before in the past, but it's usually over one athlete, and it's usually dealt with privately."
"This year, it's totally out of proportion to what I've seen in my 10 years of rowing."
Despite the controversy, current rowers are attempting to focus on the competition itself.
Claire Collins, who joined Cambridge from the US Olympic team, said: "I bet most people are still doing their coursework right now."
"I still have a project due at the end of week, so it's nice to keep that balance."
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Oxford are furious with Cambridge with the reserve race being cancelled as a result
PA
MBA student George Bourne echoed this sentiment: "It's kind of not for us in the crew to spend our time thinking about these sorts of things."
The women's reserve race, typically held days before the main event, had to be scrapped on Wednesday after further eligibility disputes.
Three-time Olympic gold medallist Andrew Hodge, who rowed for Oxford in 2005, downplayed the significance of the controversy.
"I think the fundamental position is that it's just a rowing race between two clubs who make up their own rules," he told The i Paper. "It's like squabbling over a game of marbles in the school play ground."
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Cambridge rowers Matt Heywood, Molly Foxell and Kate Cowley have all been banned
PA
Despite the controversy, the main races will proceed as scheduled on Sunday.
The women's boat race will begin at 1.20pm, with the men's race following at 2.20pm.
Only the morning trial race on the Thames has been cancelled as a result of the disputes.
Siobhan Cassidy, chair of the Boat Race Company, noted: "The clubs agree the rules between themselves, and every year there's a point where they can review those."
