Boat Race water quality 'an ongoing concern'

Boat Race organisers say water quality is an "ongoing concern" before Sunday's race following claims that the River Thames fails basic safety standards.

Environmental charity River Action says results from water-quality testing show levels of E. coli bacteria almost three times above the Environment Agency's threshold for "poor" bathing waters.

University of Oxford rowers criticised sewage levels in the Thames after losing last year's men's race.

Three members of the team suffered stomach bugs before the race, although they cannot be certain it was caused by pollution.

Organisers have encouraged rowers from Oxford and Cambridge to follow British Rowing poor water quality guidance, including not entering the water, covering any blisters and wearing footwear when getting in and out of the boat.

"Clearly the water quality testing carried out along the River Thames shows there is more work to be done to get our waterways where we all want them to be," the Boat Race Company said.

It said it was hopeful the Tideway Tunnel, a deep-level sewer that became operational this year, will have a "transformative effect" on water quality.

Thames Water has been approached by BBC Sport for comment.

Last month it said that £1.8bn would be committed to improve river health in London.

It said the Tideway Tunnel and associated upgrades would capture 95% of the untreated sewage currently entering the tidal Thames in a typical year.

British five-time Olympic rowing champion Sir Steve Redgrave said: "It's a real worry that in 2025 unsafe water quality in the Thames is still a concern.

"Rowers, river users and the public deserve better."

Last month Redgrave wrote to Environment Secretary Steve Reed calling for more action to combat river pollution.

The men's and women's Boat Races take place on Sunday, with live coverage on BBC One from 12:20 BST.