Rio Olympics: Kiwi rowing crew still wait on Russia decision

New Zealand Rowing Men's Coxless Four, (L-R) Anthony Allen, Patrick McInnes, Axel Dickinson and Drikus Conradie - during the media day at the Lake Karapiro. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

There's a possibility Russia could lose its mens rowing four from the Olympics, handing a potential reprieve to the New Zealand crew currently training at Lake Karapiro.

FISA has released an initial decision to ban three rowers from the Games, including Ivan Podshivalov, a member of the four crew. Podshivalov was previously banned in 2007 and 2008.

The New Zealand crew of Drikus Conradie, Axel Dickinson, Paddy McInnes and Anthony Allenis are the next in line to potentially claim a spot in the men's four if one was to open up.

FISA will examine the analysis of all Russian athletes anti doping records and says it may result in further declarations of ineligibility which will be determined tomorrow.

Rowing New Zealand chief executive Simon Peterson said last week that the men's four continue to train at Lake Karapiro in case of the call-up.

"The crew's been training for some weeks. We had a sit down with them (this morning) and gave them all the information we're aware of and in the next 24 hours hopefully we'll have some clarity from our international body on what might eventuate."

The New Zealand men's quad of George Bridgewater, John Storey, Jadu Uru and Nathan Flannery won a belated trip to Rio after a Russian sculler failed a doping test last month.