The FEI General Assembly 2014 was held in Baku (AZE) on 14 December 2014. The key decisions taken by the General Assembly concerning dressage are outlined here:
Time limit for appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
Under the Code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the time limit for appealing a decision to the CAS is 21 days. In order to ensure uniformity across all FEI rules, the appeal period for any appeal to the CAS has been shortened from 30 to 21 days.
Dressage Decisions
The Technical Committee Chairman presented a brief working paper on the future of Dressage, including the use of music, quota for FEI Championships, level of prize money, judging, and new harmonised formats.
The new formats in Dressage, Jumping, and Eventing will be discussed in depth at next year’s Sports Forum in Lausanne (SUI).
Olympic Games
The FEI President provided a detailed update on the recommendations that make up Olympic Agenda 2020, a strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, which were unanimously approved by the 127th IOC Session in Monaco at the beginning of the week.
“These recommendations call for change, a renewed effort on our part and an acceptance that our sport and the way we package it has to be updated in order to remain top products,” HRH Princess Haya said. “There are many things that are very good about our sport and they are being recognised, but there is no room for complacency. Olympic Agenda 2020 requires continued respect of our past and traditions but demands that we be brave enough to face our future.”
IOC member in Japan and Honorary FEI Vice President Tsunekazu Takeda thanked Princess Haya for the excellent presentation. “Universality, cost effectiveness, and popularity of a sport are very important for the Olympic Games”, he said. “It is our duty to protect the three Olympic equestrian disciplines.” Takeda is Vice-President of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Organising Committee and a member of the FEI Olympic Council.
An update was given on preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games by FEI Director Games and Championships Tim Hadaway. He reported that upgrades to the existing Olympic Equestrian Centre are underway and will ultimately include both new and renovated stables, resurfacing of all arenas and development of a veterinary clinic. Landscaping for the Eventing Cross Country course is nearing completion and conditioning of the grass footing is underway. All other aspects of operational planning, including horse import and export, athlete transportation and accommodation, as well as anti-doping and veterinary aspects, show good signs of progress. The daily timetable has been confirmed by the Organising Committee and IOC. The 2* Olympic Eventing equestrian test event will take place from 6-9 August 2015.
The General Assembly approved the FEI Regulations for Equestrian Events at the Olympic Games, 24th edition, effective for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
The qualification system has already been approved by the IOC. The remaining part of the document is pending IOC approval. It will be posted on the FEI website HERE once approved.
Youth Olympic Games
The General Assembly approved the change of the age category for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). The YOG will now be open to riders aged between 15 and 18 years old. The previous age limit had been 17 and 18.
2014 World Equestrian Games
A presentation from the Organising Committee (OC) reviewing the World Equestrian GamesTM 2014 in Normandy, including highlights and key facts and figures, was made. A final report will be published in January 2015, prior to dissolution of the Organising Committee at the end of March 2015. The OC CEO Fabien Grobon thanked all the members of the FEI Family who had given input, advice and support through the years of planning. He encouraged National Federations to consider bidding to host future Games.
Elections
Ingmar De Vos (BEL) was today elected as President of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) by an overwhelming majority in the first round of voting, earning 98 votes out of a possible 131.
On the proposal of the newly elected FEI President, the General Assembly approved the composition of the Executive Board as follows:
- FEI 1st Vice President: John Madden (USA)
- FEI 2nd Vice President: HH Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa (BRN)
- Luiz Roberto Giugni (BRA)
- Frank Kemperman (NED)
- Athlete representative: Maria Gretzer (SWE)
Following his election as FEI President, Ingmar De Vos resigned from his role as FEI Secretary General at the end of the General Assembly. He announced that the current FEI Director of Governance and Executive Affairs Sabrina Zeender (SUI) would take over as interim Secretary General until a permanent replacement is found, and this was approved at the second Bureau meeting immediately after the close of the General Assembly.
Regional Group Chairs
Group II: Hanfried Haring (GER) was re-elected for a third and final term in office (2014- 2018)
Group VI: Luiz Roberto Giugni (BRA) was re-elected for a second term in office (2014- 2018)
Deputy chairs
Group I: Sandra Widmer (SUI) was elected for a period of two years (2014-2016) replacing Manuel Bandeira de Mello (POR), who was recently appointed as FEI Director of Endurance
Group II: Ulf Helgstrand (DEN) was re-elected for a period of four years (2014-2018)
Group V: Daniela Garcia Nigaglioni (MEX) was elected for a period of three years (2014- 2017) replacing Maria del Rosario Garcia (COL)
Group VI: Gabriel Vidal (URU) was re-elected for a period of four years (2014-2018)
Veterinary Committee Chair
John McEwen (GBR) was re-elected for a third and final term in office (2014-2018)
Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs)
The General Assembly approved the modifications to the EADCMRs. The main changes were introduced to incorporate the approach of the 2015 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code, which will come into effect on 1 January 2015, where suitable.
The FEI has clarified its policy on the use of supplements/vitamins and contaminated products. The use of supplements and vitamins is at the Person Responsible’s (PR) own risk. The rules will include a provision whereby the PRs, who have been warned about the possibility of supplement contamination, are responsible for what their horses ingest. It is a recommendation to enter all supplements in a log book.
The EADCMRs effective 1 January 2015 will be published on the FEI website HERE.
The complete list of key decisions can be viewed here
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