Serbia in suspense

Words: Tom Ransley

World Rowing has suspended the Serbian Rowing Federation (VSS) and launched legal proceedings against the Federation and their official guarantors. The decision was taken by the World Rowing executive committee, who met on Thursday, 14 December 2023, and announced on January 23, 2024.

According to World Rowing the decision to suspend VSS was taken due to the “significant financial debt” owed to World Rowing by the Federation following the 2022 World Rowing Cup I and last year’s World Rowing Championships both held in Belgrade, Serbia. (Serbia had also been awarded the 2025 European Rowing Championships but this decision was later revised due to forthcoming political elections and “the risk of a delay in the funding”.)