The FEI Tribunal conducted a telephone hearing on 21 March 2012 to decide on the admissibility of the protest which the national federation of the Dominican Republic lodged against the ineligible qualification of the Olympic individual dressage representative from Brazil.
The Dominican Republic NF lodged an official protest against everal breaches of FEI rules relating to the Olympic qualification events held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which led to Brazilian rider Luiza Tavares de Almeida gaining an entry ticket to the 2012 London Olympic Games as Group E winner ahead of Dominican Republic's Yvonne Losos de Muniz.
The Dominican Republic is protesting the fact that the CDI Sao Paulo featured three national judges and only two foreign judges, whereas the FEI rule stipulates that a minimum of three international judges need to assess the Olympic qualification classes. The exemption to have three foreign judges was neither discussed nor approved by the FEI Dressage Committee.
Furthermore the schedules for the February CDI Sao Paulo shows were submitted and approved last-minute, sometimes as little as a week before the show started. The rules indicate specific and definite timelines for CDI approval which were not complied with. This would make it impossible for any foreign rider that might want to compete in Brazil to prepare for the journey from abroad. A minimum of 5 foreign NFs need to be invited for a CDI 3* and those invited NFs listed in the schedule. According to the DOM FN none of this happened, which made the Sao Paulo CDI's a private gathering.
"The Tribunal heard all parties, DOM NF, BRA NF and FEI. It did not immediately issue a decision, but the Tribunal is aware of the time sensitivity and indicated it would work as quickly as possible," FEI press officer Grania Willis told Eurodressage.
Lawyers representing all the parties – DOM NF, BRA NF and FEI (FEI was represented by FEI General Counsel Lisa Lazarus) were involved in the conference call. The DOM NF Dressage Director was also on the call.
The Tribunal panel for this case was made up of Jens Adolphsen (Tribunal Chair and chair of the panel for this case), and members Armand Leone and Vladan Jetvic.
"The Tribunal is an independent body which, in this case, can decide that the DOM protest is admissible, in which case it will go forward to a hearing, or dismiss the protest as inadmissible, as requested by the FEI General Counsel. The Tribunal will decide whether to grant the request or allow the case to proceed to a hearing on the merits," Willis explained.
Brazil was already granted an exception to the composition of ground juries in qualifying competitions for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010, but the Brazilian NF never requested one for 2012 Olympic qualification. The FEI has shown leniency in the rules towards riders and show hosts in Brazil and created an unequal level of play, as riders from other smaller dressage nations are forced to travel to North America or Europe to compete at high density dressage competitions against a world class field of competitors instead of a "private" show.
The Dominican Republic NF will file an appeal with the independent Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland if the FEI Tribunal dismisses the case.
Photos © Astrid Appels - Sheryl L Ross
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