The inadequate oarsman or shot-putter? (7)
I believe the answer is:
thrower
'shot-putter?' is the definition.
(a shot-putter throws a shotput)
'the inadequate oarsman' is the wordplay.
'inadequate' means to remove the last letter (an incomplete or inadequate form of the word).
'oarsman' becomes 'rower' (synonyms).
'the' with its final letter taken away is 'th'.
'th'+'rower'='THROWER'
'or' is the link.
(Other definitions for thrower that I've seen before include "who offends the umpire?" , "shyer" , "tosser" , "One who intentionally loses" , "participant in discus event?" .)