The Kiwi coxless four, Anthony Allen, Patrick McInnes, Axel Dickinson and Drikus Conradie. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Rowing New Zealand is disappointed the sport's governing body have gone against their own rules to allow the Russian men's four to compete at the Rio Olympics.
New Zealand's bid to send a coxless four to the Games ended with FISA confirming Russia will cobble together a crew from six
eligible athletes.
The sport's rules state that teams cannot change more than 50 percent of the crew after they've been entered into the regatta.
Only one crew member was eligible from the original Russian four that qualified the boat.
Rowing New Zealand chief executive Simon Peterson told Radio Sport that FISA decided to make an exception.
He confirmed an appeal would have to be against the exemption decision, but the athletes don't want to go down that route with nine days to go.
