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Olympian Tom Ford banned from Boat Race over eligibility

Tom Ford has been barred from competing in the Boat Race due to eligibility rules.
Tom Ford has been barred from competing in the Boat Race due to eligibility rules. (Getty Images)
  • Olympic gold medalist Tom Ford has been barred from competing in the Boat Race due to eligibility rules.
  • The rules, revised in 2021 after James Cracknell's 2019 win, prevent participation more than 12 years after starting an undergraduate degree.
  • Ford, along with three postgraduate students at Cambridge, was deemed ineligible despite winning pre-race events.
  • The Boat Race Company acknowledged Ford's contributions but upheld the rules agreed upon by both universities.
  • The women's team also faces potential bans due to similar eligibility issues concerning two of their members.
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