Former Equine Canada boss slams Games disqualification
Former Equine Canada chief executive Akaash Maharaj says the disqualification of Canadian showjumper Tiffany Foster is indefensible, together with describes the FEI’s determination to apply regulations around peel hypersensitivity over her horse’s superficial leg cutting every bit absurd. He writes:
In the soaring linguistic communication of the Olympic Charter, the really starting fourth dimension “Fundamental Principles of Olympism” include “respect for universal telephone commutation ethical principles.” But high words cast a long shadow over depression deeds.
On Saturday, Tiffany Foster, ane of Canada’s Jumping squad members, was disqualified from the Olympics past times the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), afterwards its Veterinary Commission discovered a superficial scratch inwards a higher house ane of her horse’s hooves.
The FEI justified its determination past times citing regulations designed to protect horses from abusive contest practices, inwards which unscrupulous riders scald or inflame their horses’ legs, to strength the horses to jump higher inwards a desperate elbow grease to avoid hitting hypersensitized peel against the fences.
The regulations are absolutely legitimate. The FEI’s elbow grease to apply them to Foster’s province of affairs was absurd.
The FEI has conceded that at that topographic point is no proposition that Foster acted improperly, neither through malice nor through negligence, neither through omission nor through commission. The FEI Veterinary Commission did non fifty-fifty bother to stimulate got the Equus caballus out of its stall to examine it farther or to bear witness its crusade for whatever signs of discomfort. There is no evidence that the Equus caballus itself was fifty-fifty aware of the scratch, other than when it was poked repeatedly.
The FEI acknowledged that Foster had no sick intentions. It acknowledged that she committed no wrongful act. It acknowledged that she failed inwards none of her responsibilities. It presented no evidence that her Equus caballus was inwards whatever distress.
It nonetheless punished her past times casting her out from the Olympics.
By wrapping indefensible decisions inwards the imitation flag of Equus caballus welfare, the FEI has done to a greater extent than than incorrect private athletes. It has brought its commitment to Equus caballus welfare into disrepute, together with demonstrated a willingness to brand its nearly of import rules the enemies of the nearly basic standards of justice.
How is such a province of affairs possible? The FEI regulations province baldly, “there is no appeal against the determination of the Ground Jury to disqualify a Equus caballus for abnormal sensitivity”. There is explicitly no remedy for those who stimulate got been treated unjustly; at that topographic point are no consequences for those who wield might capriciously. And might without accountability inevitably invites abuse.
Many Canadians volition milkshake their heads inwards sympathy for Foster, therefore shrug their shoulders inwards the belief that at that topographic point is nix to hold out done, that the forces arrayed against her together with other athletes are exactly likewise powerful, that the interests embodied inwards international sport organizations are likewise entrenched. But this is only truthful if nosotros allow it to hold out so.
As Canadians, nosotros stimulate got a choice, together with nosotros stimulate got a responsibleness to conduct to non piece of job gentle into that proficient night.
In a globalized world, nosotros tin projection our values into the international system, or nosotros tin allow ourselves to piece of job prisoners of the values of others. We tin speak upwardly for the ideals of proficient sportsmanship, or nosotros tin stifle the vocalism of conscience when those ideals are trampled. We tin stand upwardly amongst our athletes, or nosotros tin collude amongst those who process their dreams every bit expendable commodities.
After Foster was sent domicile from the Olympics, Equine Canada, the Canadian Equestrian Team’s governing federation, chose to number a contestation thanking the FEI for its conduct inwards this affair. Its alternative was a world obscenity, together with an affront to every athlete who has always carried the maple leafage into competition. In response, Eric Lamaze, maybe the greatest equestrian athlete Canada has always produced, chose to denote that he volition never over again compete nether Equine Canada’s authority, unless the federation reverses its position.
This is to a greater extent than than a create arrive at over the handling of a unmarried athlete. This is to a greater extent than than a struggle for the futurity of equestrian sport. This is a battle for the values, the honour, together with the really soul of our country’s national sporting system.
Eric has chosen to conduct chances everything to stand upwardly amongst the angels. I believe inwards my oculus that Canadians volition non instruct out him to stand upwardly alone.
Akaash Maharaj is a triple gilt medallist for Canada at the International Championships of Equestrian Skill-at-Arms, together with a onetime main executive of Equine Canada. His personal spider web site is www.Maharaj.org.
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