David Lindstrom, front, is a two-time rowing Olympian who competed at the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal games.

A former St Bede's College rowing coach has been dropped as a national rowing selector after being caught in a dispute about the behaviour of two students who breached airport security.

Christchurch two-time Olympian David Lindstrom said Rowing New Zealand (RNZ) "removed" him from the junior national selectors panel, a voluntary role he held for nine years.

"All I can say is, it was a shock and I'm certainly not happy about it and I believe that they (RNZ) have acted inappropriately," he said.



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Lindstrom said he was told to leave on April 5 after the fall out of the St Bede's Maadi Cup saga in March, in which he and Alex Meates quit their coaching roles due to the way the school tried to discipline two pupils who breached Auckland Airport security.

Lindstrom, who was convenor of the three-strong national junior selection panel, said RNZ was unhappy about comments published by a media outlet when he quit the school coaching role. RNZ challenged his integrity as a selector because one of the affected pupils was in selection contention.

"We can't do anything about it, we have already gone through a process with a lawyer and that got nowhere and now we are talking to the media."

St Bede's rector Justin Boyle tried to ban students Jordan Kennedy and Jack Bell from racing after they breached Auckland Airport security on March 20.

They entered a restricted area at the airport on the rowing team's way to the Maadi Cup national championships in Waikato's Lake Karapiro.

The boys' fathers, Shane Kennedy and Antony Bell, successfully lodged a High Court injunction allowing their boys to be reinstated in the school's rowing team.

Lindstrom, a St Bede's old boy, said RNZ was unhappy he signed an affidavit supporting the parents by saying the national panel had never selected anyone who did not row at Maadi Cup. He said he could have been subpoenaed to appear before a judge if he did not sign it.

Lindstrom publicly slated the way the school handled the situation as he stood down from coaching the team with Meates.

"What the boys did was a stupid thing to do, but what was even more stupid was the rector's decision as a result of that. It was an inappropriate decision for the seriousness of the crime and the impact on the rest of the group.

"That was the major concern, some four or five boys weren't going to get a row if they pulled (Jordan and Jack) out."

The entire saga resulted in the rowing team performing "way off par", he said.

Lindstrom is among the country's most experienced coaches and has been a national senior selector.

Rowing New Zealand chief executive Simon Peterson refused to comment.

St Bede's College Board of Trustees chairman Warren Johnstone said the school was "focused on the future of rowing which remains a key part of the school".

"Past matters won't be commented upon at this time."

New Zealand Rowing Association past president Bruce Fraser hoped Lindstrom was not lost to the sport.

"I saw him down at rowing a few nights ago . . . I guess it's in the blood and I don't think he will be totally lost."

Lindstrom is a two-time rowing Olympian who competed at the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal games. He has a silver and bronze medal from competing at four world championship regattas.