London 2012 Olympics: snubbed Rowley Douglas hits back at British Rowing over Games omission But no trial was forthcoming, either for himself or another returning cox, Acer Nethercott. "The goalposts kept moving," Douglas said. I never got an answer on what I had to do to be trialled. In January, British Rowing wrote to Douglas, telling him that two challengers would steer the men's eight for a week each in late March, with the winner going on to Varese to be tested against Hill. The best cox from this would race in the World Cup series in Belgrade before selection was confirmed. But Nethercott dropped out of the week-long trial for personal reasons and, just days later, Douglas was told that he would not be taken to Varese: the process was finished. At the appeal hearing, British Rowing said Douglas should not have read the letter as a guarantee that any challenger would be taken to the training camp - a point that still grates. "No young athlete should have to read a document and wonder where the loopholes might be," he said. Policy documents should be absolutely clear. And for the good of the sport we should explore coxing much earlier. Last Sunday, Hill won World Cup silver with the eight. He is understandably uncomfortable about discussing the appeal. "It's not for me to deal with," he said.