How does a rowing crew challenge a result?
A · Advanced · Penalties, protests and weather · 8 of 12There are three steps. A crew objects to the umpire on the water straight after the race, by a rower raising an arm. If that fails it may protest in writing to the board of the jury within one hour, with a deposit of EUR 100. A limited appeal to the Executive Committee follows.
How it works
- The objection: a crew that thinks its race was not in order, and that its ranking was affected, objects to the umpire before its boat leaves the area of the finish line and before the umpire shows the white flag. A member of the crew raises an arm. The crew stays there until the umpire has heard it.
- The umpire's answer: a white flag rejects the objection. A red flag accepts it or means the umpire is seeking more information. The result is not announced until the umpire decides.
- The protest: in writing to the president of the jury, not later than one hour after the race is concluded, with a deposit of EUR 100 that is returned if the protest succeeds. The board of the jury decides before the next round of the event and no later than two hours after the last race of the day.
- The appeal: to the Executive Committee, with a fee of EUR 200 that is returned if the appeal is allowed.
Who may protest: a crew whose objection was rejected; a crew whose ranking was changed because an objection was accepted; a crew ruled DNS or DNF; a crew excluded or disqualified; a crew that disputes the published results.
An objection to a sanction is different. The crew makes it at the time to the official who gave the sanction. That official decides without delay.
Tricky cases
Can a crew object about what happened in another race?
No. An objection "may only concern the conduct of that crew's race".
The crew rowed back to the dock and then decided to object. Is it too late?
Yes. Once the umpire has shown the white flag to the judge at the finish, no further objection is accepted from crews in that race.
Can every decision of the board of the jury be appealed?
No. A decision of the board that confirms the decision of a member of the jury is final. An appeal is open only to a crew whose ranking was adversely affected by the board's decision or whose protest against the published results was rejected.
The medals have been given out and a protest then succeeds. What happens?
The official result is changed and, where medal places are affected, the medals are awarded again.
Why the rule exists
The umpire saw the race and the crews are still on the water, so most complaints can be settled there in a minute. The written steps exist for the few that cannot, and the deposit and the short deadlines keep a regatta from stalling on weak complaints.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Rowing rules | As above | RR 76; RR 77; RR 78 |
| International regattas | An appeal must be lodged within three days of the decision | RR 78 (4 a) |
| World Championships, Games and World Cups | An appeal must be lodged within one hour of the official results being published | RR 78 (4 b) |
| A sanction given outside a race | The objection must be made before the crew embarks for the race the sanction applies to | RR 76 bye-law (1 c) |
From the rule book
World Rowing Rules of Racing and Related Bye-Laws (Overall and Classic Rowing), Rules 70, 74, 76, 77 and 78 and the bye-laws to Rules 74 and 76. Last updated 1 July 2025. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Rowing Rules of Racing (PDF).