Rowing New Zealand hopes to know by the end of the day if their men's four will compete at the Rio Olympics.
Russian rowers. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Rowing's world governing body FISA cut four Russian crews from the Olympic programme, leaving just six Russian athletes with the opportunity to form a men's four.
The New Zealand four is the next in line to take up a spot in the field.
New Zealand alread has 11 rowing crews at the Games, and the men's four of Drikus Conradie, Axel Dickinson, Paddy McInnes and Anthony Allen has been continuing traing at Lake Karapiro in case they are called up.
New Zealand Men's Four, Anthony Allen, Patrick Mcinnes, Axel Dickinson and Drikus Conradie. May 2016. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Rowing New Zealand chief executive Simon Peterson said he was not sure if they would get the last spot, but should know later today.
"It really is a 50-50 call," he told Morning Report.
"I've just received a text just to say that we'll have an answer by tomorrow Europe time - so end of the day New Zealand time.
"We've got everything in place for our guys except for some flights - that's all that's left for us to do."
FISA yesterday banned three Russian rowers from the Games, including Ivan Podshivalov, a member of the Russian men's four crew, for previous doping offences.
The decision means Russia has just one lightweight and five open weight men left for competition in Rio.
The World Rowing Federation says Aleksandr Chaukin, Georgy Efremenko, Artem Kosov, Nikita Morgachev, Vladislav Ryabcev and Anton Zarutskiy meet the conditions to compete in Rio.
The Russian lightweight men's four place has now gone to Greece, the men's eight place to Italy, the women's eight to Australia and the lightweight womens double to Italy.
-RNZ
