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Rowing: Safety

Asked by Freddie van MierloLiberal DemocratDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled Answered 13 June 2025UIN 58878

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with British Rowing on ensuring the safety of British athletes.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock

The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone taking part in sport is absolutely paramount. National Governing Bodies (NGBs) are responsible for the regulation of their sports and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm.


The Government is aware of the deeply concerning recent media reports in relation to rowing. We have not spoken directly to British Rowing, but have raised this with UK Sport and Sport England, who are both monitoring the situation. UK Sport has also confirmed they are in contact with British Rowing and encourage any member of staff or athlete on Olympic and Paralympic performance programmes to report allegations of unacceptable behaviour to Sport Integrity, their confidential reporting line.

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