Ainslie Cleared to Compete

The International Sailing Federation has ruled that four-time British Olympic medalist Ben Ainslie was guilty of “gross misconduct” when he assaulted the crew of a media boat during December’s ISAF World Sailing Championships in Perth, Australia. 

However, the ISAF ruling, issued in March, also held that no penalties were required beyond those imposed by the international jury at the time of the event, clearing the way for Ainslie to compete at next month’s Olympic regatta in Weymouth, England. 

Ainslie, who sails in the Finn class, boarded the media boat in Perth shortly after crossing the finish line midway through the World Championships and berated the crew for repeatedly impeding his progress. 

Shortly after the ISAF decision, Ainslie went on to dominate the Finn class at the Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE regatta in Palma, Spain—his first time racing Finns since the fracas Down Under—showing the controversy hasn’t slowed him down. U.S. sailor Zach Railey took second.