Oxford, Cambridge rowing teams warned about polluted waters ahead of Boat Race: It's a 'national disgrace'

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The coach of Oxford’s crew taking part in the Boat Race described the pollution in London’s River Thames as a "national disgrace" as the company responsible for its upkeep faces mounting financial difficulties that critics say will need it to be taken back into state hands.

Testing by a campaign group has found high levels of E.coli along a section of the Thames in southwest London that will be used for the historic race on Saturday.

Crew members have been warned about the risks of entering the water and advised to use a "cleansing station" at the finish area. The pollution has also cast doubt on the post-race tradition of throwing the winning cox into the water.

HEALTH WARNING ISSUED TO BOAT RACE CREWS OVER LEVELS OF E.COLI IN THAMES

It comes as figures released by the Environment Agency showed the level of sewage spills into England’s rivers and seas by water companies more than doubled in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching 3.6 million hours of spills in 2023 compared to 1.75 million hours in 2022.

There has been no suggestion that the annual Boat Race between storied universities Oxford and Cambridge that dates to 1829 will not go ahead. The women's race will precede the men's event along the same 4.2-mile section of the Thames.

But Oxford coach Sean Bowden has lamented the state of the water.

The Cambridge Men's team are seen here during a training session on the River Thames in Putney, London, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The historic tradition of having the winning crew jump into London's River Thames is now being called into question in the wake of troubling reports regarding the river's