The FEI Tribunal has issued its decision today rejecting the Dominican Republic Equestrian Federation’s Protest against the results achieved at the CDI*3 Events in Brazil during the Olympic Qualification Period.
The Tribunal found that the FEI Dressage Committee had granted a valid exception in 2010 for all CDI*3s and below outside Europe to have only two foreign judges instead of three and that this exception remained valid during the Olympic Qualification Period. Therefore, according to the FEI Tribunal, the CDI*3 Events organised in Brazil in 2011 and 2012 were properly organised under FEI rules.
The Tribunal also rejected the claim that a Brazilian judge had a conflict of interest and that late submitted draft schedules should lead to the annulment of all results from these CDI*3s.
The Tribunal consisted of a three member panel led by Jens Adolphsen (GER) as chair with Armand Leone (USA) and Vladan Jetvic (SER) as panel members.
The Dominican Republic Equestrian Federations has 30 days to appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The full text of the 27 March procedural decision is available here.
Jose Manuel Ramos, president of the Dominican Republic Equestrian Federation, sent the following statement to Eurodressage concerning the FEI Tribunal' decision:
"The Dominican Republic Equestrian Federation has received the FEI Tribunal decision, which denies our protest on each and every point we raised. Although very disappointed, we are not surprised by it. Our firm position is that the rules for Olympic qualification have not been complied with in this case, and we are reviewing our range of legal options with our lawyer in order to proceed accordingly. Finally, it is disheartening to see how the FEI has taken close to three months to decide on this time-sensitive matter, and how the final decision was issued at the final date of the 30-day limit. We will have further statements in the next few days."
Photo © Sheryl Ross
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