Olympics: Neo-Nazi boyfriend claim sees German rower sent home

Germany's Nadja Drygalla has been sent home from the Olympic Games following allegations her partner is a neo-Nazi. Photo / AP

A German Olympic rower has been sent home over claims her partner is a neo-Nazi.

Nadja Drygalla, 23, who was part of Germany's women's eight rowing team, has left the Olympics after her country's media reported that her boyfriend is a supporter of Germany's far right.

Drygalla's Olympics were already over after her rowing team failed to qualify for Thursday's final, but she has gone back to her native country to avoid any "burden for the Olympic team".

She had met with German rowing officials and "stressed credibly" that she was "committed to the values of the Olympics charter", but was sent home anyway by the national Olympic association's general director, Michael Vesper.

It was claimed Drygalla's boyfriend was a member of a regional National Socialist group and had fought a state election for the far-right National Democratic Party.

Germany's intelligence agency describes the party as racist, anti-Semitic and inspired by the Nazis.

The German Rowing Federation said it would investigate the allegations against Drygalla once the Olympics were over.

Siegfried Kaidel, the head of the Federation said: "We will have another conversation with Nadja Drygalla in August, after the Olympic Games.

"After that we will decide together how to proceed."

Mark Adams, spokesman for the International Olympic Committee, said Drygalla had done nothing wrong at the Olympic Games.

He added: "There is no issue for us regarding the rower. I have seen the report. But as far as the games are concerned, she has not done anything wrong."

- DAILY MAIL