Australian rower Catriona Oliver will tell a disciplinary committee she did not slap but only pushed crewmate Sally Robbins after being abused by a senior coach, it was reported.

The Daily Telegraph, quoting a rowing source, said head men's coach Noel Donaldson would become the central figure in Oliver's defence at the hearing of which a date has yet to be set.

The paper said it would be alleged at the hearing before Rowing Australia that a conversation between Donaldson and Oliver at an Olympic function in Sydney the night of the welcome home parade had become heated.

The source told the paper Oliver was upset and, as she walked off, crossed paths with Robbins, who she pushed out of the way.

The source said Robbins - the focus of controversy since her dramatic collapse during the Olympic women's eights final - just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

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