Boat Race organisers warn rowers not to enter water after E coli discovery

• Bacteria discovered during regular testing by River Action
• Winning teams jumping in river could be consigned to history

Boat Race organisers have issued new safety guidance for the race on Saturday, warning rowers not to enter the water and to cover any open wounds, after high levels of E coli bacteria were found on the River Thames course.

It means the traditional celebration in which members of the winning team often jump into the river – which was seen last year when the Cambridge men’s cox Jasper Parish jumped into the Thames at Mortlake – could be consigned to history.