The CONI Disciplinary Tribunal, together with the High Court of Sports Justice and the FISE (Italian Equestrian Sport Federation) Federal Prosecutor, have examined the appeal against the decision regarding Mr Paolo Giani Margi.

Margi was sentenced to life expulsion from any position of responsibility within the equestrian sports authorities, but his subsequent appeal commuted this sentence to a mere four-year disqualification.

CONI and FISE both lodged objections to this second decision, and successfully obtained the reinstatement of the original sentence of lifelong expulsion of Margi, who has also been ordered to pay €2,000 in legal costs.

In a statement Sonny Richichi, President of IHP, said: “We are very pleased with the decision to uphold the lifelong ban from all responsibilities within the sporting authorities, and applaud CONI and FISE for having appealed against a very questionable judgement. We now await developments in the penal process underway with the State Director of Prosecutions.”