Members area
News
News
Dialogue or clash 02/02/2010
Written by Carlo Bozzo
In the last two months the equestrian world has been speaking only about doping, so called “20 October list”, prohibited substances, banned substances, progressive list, a few mistakes concerning doses 500mcg/ml or 0.5mcg/ml in plasma: which make a big difference.
Lists or rules which come into force or not, postponed for a month or maybe for a year; probably they have to be changed or have to be accepted as they are. Orders and counterorders which make athletes and officials confused, so you can imagine what was happen between sportsmen and equestrian fans. More than that: nobody is able to explain correctly what happened during the General Assembly in Copenhagen and, above all, what we should expect for the next months. But what affects more is the clash between FEI and NFs during the Danish Assembly, and the fact that both have been forced by the circumstances not to approve changes that should have been ratified (FEI Bureau Restructuring) and, paradoxically, approve what they didn’t want to (progressive list).
By the refusal of the new statutes, deeply studied and modified during the last two years also by the NFs themselves, the most clear result is that the presence of a riders representative in the governing body has been failed. In a more and more professional sport world, bound from sponsors, from high breeding investments, looking for new and important visibility on the media, who is the one that again stays out of the game? The riders.
Besides, considering that no rider of the Olympic disciplines has never been a member of the bureau, even if suggested by the Olympic Chart, the actors of this sport, the riders, are missing an opportunity and once again remain outside decision making place.The matter will be discussed again during the next General Assembly. Certainly Copenhagen seems like a failed great opportunity. The GA could improve the equestrian sport, making it more modern and efficient, but it hasn’t been done.
Also about doping, confusion reigns. Several positions are hardly compared without finding a common consent. Concerning the club, the position about this issue is clear. We do not believe that a rule that puts at risk or makes a single athlete or a single Federation uncomfortable, is acceptable. We agree on reasonable solutions which respect the horse welfare and the national rules of each country. Decisions should be taken following demonstrated and scientifically recognized realities, in the respect of legal and juridical rules. They shouldn’t be suggested by prejudices, political games or afraid of changes. This is the path to follow in order to rapidly come out from a sad situation, where nobody makes profit but our sport risks to loose credibility.
In front of such different opinions, there are only two possibilities: to dialogue or to clash. But we are sure that the headquarters of FEI and NFs will be able to act with responsibility to find reasonable solutions which could be shared. From our side we are used to respecting rules and we’ll certainly do it with the new norms. On the other side nobody can or should be treated as a criminal if any traces of these substances would be found during the analysis, maybe with a low percentage, with eighteen zero after the coma.
Doping products are a different matter, for athletes which disobey the behaviour norms, proportional sanctions about infringements done are needed. Clear sanctions, to be applied and with no delay. But this goal also, seems to be very far.
Eleonora Ottaviani, International Jumping Riders Club Director
Comments
Leave a comment about this article :
> Photo gallery
The last photos added by our members
