[Sport] Suspending the participation of the UAE in international equestrian competitions

[HiTLeR]

Suspending the participation of the UAE in international equestrian competitions

 

 

The International Equestrian Federation suspended the UAE's participation in international competitions, after it organized two international races for endurance and endurance as two local competitions in an attempt to circumvent the new rules.

Under the suspension, the UAE's participation in all competitions and categories of the International Equestrian Federation will be suspended until the new year, as well as endurance competitions until March 31, 2021.

The UAE has 21 days to appeal the decision, and this is the second time in five years that the International Federation has imposed sanctions on the UAE.

In 2015, the Emirates' membership was suspended due to mistreatment of horses.

An independent investigation found that two national endurance and endurance competitions in January and February far exceeded the foreign cavalry quotas allowed in domestic competitions and should have been held as international tournaments.

The FEI said the reason was due to an attempt to circumvent new endurance and endurance racing rules that were due to take effect on January 1, 2020.

The Emirates Equestrian Federation would also have to pay a percentage of the organizational dues that would have gone to the International Federation if the races were organized as international competitions, in addition to legal fees and expenses and other financial penalties.

"It is regrettable that we are dealing with issues of this kind in 2020 and that we have to suspend the participation of a national federation," said Ingmar de Vos, president of the International Equestrian Federation.

He continued, "Nevertheless, the clear intention of the Emirates Equestrian Federation to avoid applying the new rules was reflected in its actions ... We cannot allow national federations to apply the rules in a manner and timing that suits them only."