Aussie rowers borrow boat for Olympics

Australia's women's eight rowing crew will borrow a Brazilian boat to compete at the Rio Olympics.

The Australian crew were called up for the Games last Tuesday when a Russian crew was barred because of past performance-enhancing drug use.

The Australians didn't have time to ship their boat to Brazil and will borrow a boat from a Rio rowing club, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) says.

The AOC has ratified the selection of the women's eight crew, with Charlotte Sutherland, Meaghan Volker, Fiona Albert, Lucy Stephen, Molly Goodman, Jessica Morrison, Olympia Aldersey, Alexandra Hagan and Sarah Banting (coxswain) selected.

"These girls have worked so hard over the past four years and to come so close and miss out at the qualifying events was heartbreaking for them, so to see them get this opportunity is fantastic," Australian chef de mission Kitty Chiller said in a statement on Friday.

The Australian crew arrive in Rio next Thursday, with rowing competition starting the following day.