5 Nov 2010

Drysdale into final after controversial start

3:03 pm on 5 November 2010

Four-time world champion sculler Mahe Drysdale has qualified for his final at the World Rowing Championships on Lake Karapiro, but not without controversy.

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Drysdale had neglected to fix the official stickers to the side of his boat and was yellow-carded, which is the equivalent of a false start.

He then affixed the stickers, but a few seconds after the start, he asked officials to stop the race because when a sticker appeared to have to come loose.

The race was restarted and the defending world champion won by a boat length after being pushed hard by his main rival, Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic.

He was allowed to start for the second time and then went on to win the semi-final and qualify for Saturday's final.