A row between Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Clubs over Boat Race rules surrounding selection has seen three rowers banned.

Matt Heywood – a former under-23 world champion – Molly Foxell and Kate Cowley will not be able to compete for Cambridge because they do not have “degree level” qualifications.

The trio are PGCE – Postgraduate Certificate in Education – students, something which led to Oxford raising objections. The university argued that PGCE’s were “certificates” and not degrees.

An independent interpretation panel, not organisers the Boat Race Company themselves, made the final decision which led to the triple exclusion.

It has led Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist Imogen Grant to claim the selection for the Boat Race, which this year will be sponsored by Chanel for the first time, was “very unfair”.

“Nothing has changed in the joint agreement. PGCE students were racing before – it’s written down,” she added. “It’s the interpretation which has changed.

“It upsets me because the Boat Race is iconic, because it’s a massive showcase, an age-old rivalry.