Australian judge Ben Lowe has been stood down from the Olympics after being pictured with Aussie star Ethan Ewing.
Ewing will face countryman Jack Robinson in the quarter-finals while Aussie star Tyler Wright has also booked her spot in the women’s quarter-finals.
But Lowe, an experienced World Surf League judge, will not be there.
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He posed for a photo with Ewing and his coach Bede Durbidge, who posted the image on social media with the caption: “Three Straddie (North Stradbroke Island) boys doing their stuff at the Olympics.”
The International Surfing Association took swift action.
“It is inappropriate for a judge to be interacting in this manner with an athlete and their team,” an ISA statement read.
Lowe has been stood down in accordance with the ISA’s code of conduct and the International Olympic Committee’s code of ethics, according to the ISA.
Australians are in the mix for medals in both men’s and women’s competition ahead of the quarters.
Wright had not competed since Monday as a result of the heat format and two storm-affected lay days, and found the game had changed from previous heats.
In calmer surf, manoeuvring was possible and also necessary to score well, rather than bold streaks through barrels of previous days.
Wright seized the initiative from the get-go, booking an early 5.83 to claim the lead over Israel’s Anat Lelior.
Her small second score — 2.67 — left the door open to challenge, so the 30-year-old took on a smaller wave with darting turns.
Unfortunately for the Australian, it carried her too close to shore, and she was left floating above the dangerous shallow reef.
As she waited for a jetski tow back to the waves, she stood up revealing the ankle-deep water which has caused many an injury.
The exercise took several minutes, freeing the surf up for Lelior to seize the initiative.
The Israeli had a dip at a couple of waves in Wright’s absence, but wasn’t able to score heavily, leaving the competition poised at 8.50 to 7.74 with 10 minutes to go.
With those margins, a decent ride from either woman could have booked a quarter-final place — Lelior needed to find just 3.84 if Wright wasn’t able to improve.
However, the Australian’s class told.
She held her nerve at the back of the surf and eventually found the barrel she wanted, scoring a 5.27 to close the door.
She will now face Marks at 10.12am AEST, just after the the all-Aussie men’s quarter-final between Ewing and Robinson at 9.36am.
– with AAP