Dick Tonks, who has been embroiled in a controversy over the training of Chinese rowers on Lake Karapiro.

Successful coach Dick Tonks has reportedly cut ties with Rowing New Zealand after it was revealed he was helping train a Chinese men's double.

The Chinese pair has been training on Lake Karapiro, with Tonks' assistance, much to the frustration of Rowing NZ.

However, he reacted angrily when his link with the rowers was questioned and told Radio Sport he is "finished" with the national body.

GETTY IMAGES Olympic gold medalist Mahe Drysdale was trained by Tonks.

Despite it being a potential conflict of interest, he says it is nothing that hasn't been done before.

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Champion rower Mahe Drysdale, a long-time student of Tonks, supported those claims and said his coach's involvement with the Chinese pair has not affected his work with Kiwi rowers.

"We had an American lightweight double training with us leading into the last Olympics. We've currently got a Canadian girl who finished sixth at the World Champs who's training alongside Emma Twigg. So it's not a new thing I guess within our programme," Drysdale said.

Rowing NZ had asked Tonks to stop coaching the Chinese pair and when he didn't, it gave him an ultimatum to coach either the Chinese or the Kiwis, One News said.

The 64-year-old's departure could seriously derail Drysdale's defence of his single sculls crown at next year's Rio Olympics, but he was hopeful Tonks and Rowing NZ could come to an agreement.

"He's been the architect of the success of New Zealand Rowing," Drysdale added. "He's coached me for nine out of the past 11 years so he's a very important part of rowing and of my programme. So I certainly hope he's there at least through to Rio."

Rowing NZ chief executive Simon Peterson told the New Zealand Herald that he hoped a resolution could be found so that Tonks can coach his crews to Rio.

"We have always wanted him to coach Olympic champion Mahe Drysdale and the women's double (current world champions Zoe Stevenson and Eve Macfarlane). That's the agreement we had, and it hasn't changed in our view."

Tonks is one of the most successful coaches in New Zealand Olympic history, winning five gold medals with the likes of Drysdale, Rob Waddell, and Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell.

He is a five-time Halberg Awards Coach of the Year and has led crews to a total of 25 World Championship medals - including 13 gold.

WHO IS HE?

Name: Richard 'Dick' Tonks

Age: 64

Occupation: Rowing coach with Rowing NZ

As an athlete: Silver medallist at the 1972 Munich Olympics in the New Zealand men's four, beaten for gold by East Germany.

As a coach: Head rowing coach for New Zealand at the past five Olympics Games. Has guided five boats to Olympic gold medals (Rob Waddell, men's single scull, 2000; Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell, women's double scull, 2004, 2008; Mahe Drysdale, men's single scull, 2012; Hamish Bond and Eric Murray, men's pair, 2012). Has been named Halberg Coach of the Year five times – 1999, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012 – more times than any other coach. Has been named World Rowing coach of the year three times – 2005, 2010, 2012 – since its inception in 1998 and no other coach has won the title more than once.