German rowing coach admits blood test charge

File photo / Martin Sykes

The chief coach of the German rowing team has pleaded guilty to refusing to provide a blood sample.

Hartmut Buschbacher admitted the charge at Hamilton District Court this morning. Interim name suppression was lifted at the court hearing.

Police stopped Buschbacher after he was seen driving 40-kilometres an hour in a 100-kilometre zone of State Highway One, near Karapiro, early on November 2.

In court today he was convicted and fined $400 plus court costs of $132.89 and disqualified from driving for six months.

Outside the court Buschbacher said he was angry with himself and had let his team down but that despite this they had gone on to perform well at the World Rowing Championships.

Buschbacher said he was flying out to the United States tonight.

The rowing world championships at Lake Karapiro concluded yesterday.

International rowing's governing body Fisa said last week it would wait for German rowing authorities before deciding what action it might take.

- With NZPA