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Shock decision for Endurance: FEI suspends the United Arab Emirates

13/03/2015

(13 March 2015)

As a consequence of the numerous incidents of violence, mistreatment and doping, the International Equestrian Federation has debarred the United Arab Emirates from endurance competitions for an unspecified period of time.

For some while now, the protests have been coming in from all sides, given that the carnage was happening openly and with the obvious collusion of the event organisers. IHP has already written many times to the FEI, most recently three weeks ago following an appalling incident resulting in the death of a horse (read more here). British, American and Swiss federations have registered strong reactions.

In effect the UAE will not be permitted to participate or be represented in any official FEI-organised events, and will not be allowed to organise any international event; its members and associates will not be eligible to participate in any international event. The only exception conceded by the FEI concerns athletes of disciplines other than endurance: these may compete but only under the FEI flag, not that of their own country.

FEI President Ingmar De Vos declared: “Suspending a national federation is not a decision that is lightly made, but in the absence of valid alternatives we had no choice. We must face our responsibilities squarely in such disturbing cases as these. Where the welfare of the horse is concerned, the FEI must be seen to resolve problems without the smallest concession to any party.”
The suspension will be lifted only when the Emirates’ federation makes a formal commitment to guarantee the welfare and safety of the horses in accordance with international norms and regulations.


FEI official press release

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