Olympic Notes: Rio Pollution Could Delay Olympic Rowing Regattas

The head of rowing's governing body said that races at next year's Olympics "could be delayed because of severe water pollution at the venue." World Rowing Federation Exec Dir Matt Smith said that "events may be suspended for a day or two if pollution spikes." But he said athletes are "not a high risk" with no plans to abandon the small lake in central Rio, site of a "massive fish die-off last month." Smith: "The situation is not traumatic or dangerous from what we understand so far. But we want to get all the facts and explanations" (AP, 5/8). ... Several int'l federations "will be reviewing their membership of sports umbrella organization SportAccord next week" after its president launched a "scathing attack" on the IOC. The Int'l Boxing Association (AIBA) "became the latest body to withdraw from SportAccord" (REUTERS, 5/9).