UNIVERSITY of Oxford has been accused of covering up an allegation of rape against an athlete.

A rower from Oxford University Women’s Boat Club has claimed that she was attacked by another student athlete after a night out in the city on October 25.

The woman reported the sexual assault to Sir John Bell, a scientist who advises the Government on Covid-19 and sits on the women's boat club’s executive committee, however, she claimed that he diminished her allegation saying 'it is a very toxic combination of alcohol and very young athletes at university, it does not work at all'.

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She also reported the attack to a disciplinary officer but was told that it could not take action because she had decided not to report the matter to police, even though her alleged attacker had written her a letter apologising for 'crossing that boundary'.

According to a Guardian report, the proctors' office formally responded to the athlete's complaint just under six weeks after the non-academic misconduct form was submitted, only to say it would not investigate without her involving police.

A spokesperson for the university said: "While we cannot comment on individual cases in detail, we are confident that our disciplinary teams, support services and sports clubs in all cases will show great empathy and take considerable action to advise and support any student."