On November 5, 2025, the world of British rowing was rocked by the release of a damning independent investigation into the Oxford Brookes University Boat Club (OBUBC), one of the UK’s most decorated rowing programs. The findings, which were widely reported by the BBC, The Telegraph, and student news outlets, have revealed a deeply troubling culture of bullying, sexual harassment, and discrimination within the club—casting a harsh light on the practices at a university that supplied half of Team GB’s men’s eight at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The investigation, commissioned by Oxford Brookes University and conducted by the law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper, was prompted by the circulation of a so-called "toughness sheet" on WhatsApp in November 2024. This document ranked over 50 male rowers by perceived toughness and included a slew of derogatory and personal comments. Among the most stinging were remarks like "get a haircut, toughen up, get serious," "put the pies down," and "watching you row is like watching paint dry." The sheet’s feedback often fixated on athletes’ appearance and weight, with some notes bluntly instructing rowers to "lose weight" if their bodies "jiggled" during a topless jumping test.
The report’s scope was comprehensive—41 current and former OBUBC athletes were interviewed, with all identifying information redacted. The investigation confirmed "multiple and varied instances" of sex discrimination and sexual harassment, as well as three documented cases of racial slurs. The findings also uncovered repeated breaches of British Rowing’s Code of Conduct, especially the rule prohibiting coaches from engaging in sexual relationships with athletes they coach or have recently coached. Additionally, the club was found to have violated British Rowing’s Weighing Guidance and committed data protection breaches, prompting recommendations for a thorough audit of the club’s finances.
One former female rower, identified under the pseudonym "Heather," described witnessing prolific public weight shaming and sexual harassment during her time at the club. She told the BBC, “I felt it was important to be part of the investigation because I felt that a lot of the athletes might not feel able to speak out about their experiences.” Heather recounted the notorious "jiggle test," where male squad members were asked to jump up and down topless, with coaches instructing that "if any of their body parts jiggled, they needed to lose it." She added, "Methods like the 'toughness sheet' were not effective in training athletes, and success and wellbeing should come hand in hand."
The investigation’s summary, submitted to the university in April 2025, didn’t just catalog misdeeds—it called for action. Recommendations included disciplinary measures against certain club members, the appointment of a welfare officer, and mandatory Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion training for all involved. The report further noted "repeated interference" during the investigation, raising concerns about the club’s willingness to cooperate fully with the inquiry.
Oxford Brookes University, for its part, responded with a public statement emphasizing its commitment to reform. “When concerns were initially raised about coaching at the Oxford Brookes University Boat Club, we took swift action by launching the independent investigation that led to the production of this report,” a university spokesperson said. “Respect, inclusion and the dignity of everyone who studies and works here are central to our culture. We have worked with British Rowing to address the issues raised in the report, with leadership and coaching changes and new, progressive structures now in place at the club.”
British Rowing, the sport’s national governing body, also weighed in, underscoring its role in supporting the university throughout the process. “British Rowing worked collaboratively with and supported Oxford Brookes University as it implemented the recommendations identified through its independent investigation into coaching practices at Oxford Brookes University Boat Club,” the organization said in a statement. “Creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for everyone in the rowing community is our priority, and any member of the rowing community with concerns is strongly encouraged to get in touch with us.”
The revelations at Oxford Brookes arrive on the heels of similar scandals in the sport, most notably at the prestigious Leander Club. Just months ago, Leander was scrutinized for failing to properly investigate allegations of rape and harassment, with female members staging a visible protest during the regatta season. The proximity of these two high-profile investigations—especially given that Brookes and Leander accounted for more than two-thirds of Team GB’s rowing squad at the Paris Olympics—has prompted soul-searching within British rowing about the culture at its elite institutions.
OBUBC’s prominence in the sport cannot be overstated. With eight of its rowers selected for Team GB at the Paris Games, the club has long been seen as a pipeline for Olympic talent. The current scandal, however, threatens to overshadow its athletic achievements. The investigation’s findings suggest that the pursuit of excellence at Brookes came at a steep personal cost for many athletes, particularly women and those subjected to body shaming or discriminatory language.
The "toughness sheet" itself became a lightning rod for criticism. After it was leaked, an unverified WhatsApp message from a senior club member surfaced, threatening to "track down" whoever had posted the image online. This response, far from reassuring, only fueled concerns about a culture of intimidation and lack of transparency within the club’s leadership.
Calls for greater accountability and transparency have grown louder in the wake of the report. The investigation’s recommendations—auditing club finances, punishing those responsible, and establishing welfare structures—signal a new era for OBUBC, one in which athlete wellbeing must be as important as competitive success. As one former rower put it, “Success and wellbeing should come hand in hand.”
As of November 5, 2025, Oxford Brookes University insists that it has implemented significant changes, including overhauling leadership and coaching staff and introducing new governance structures. British Rowing continues to monitor the situation and has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding. Whether these reforms will be enough to repair trust and change the culture at OBUBC remains to be seen, but the rowing world will be watching closely.
This investigation has not only exposed the dark side of one of Britain’s most successful rowing programs but has also sparked a wider conversation about the pressures, expectations, and responsibilities that come with elite sport. The hope now is that the lessons learned at Oxford Brookes will lead to lasting change, ensuring that future generations of rowers can compete in an environment defined by respect, safety, and true team spirit.
