Badminton 2018 Winner Jonelle Price and her son Otis
The FEI has made changes to the existing rules regarding maternity leave, but the changes will not apply to eventing competitors
The decision, taken by the FEI Board on 6th December 2022, ‘introduces further flexibility and gives athletes the option of adapting the duration of their maternity leave to their individual situation’ following feedback from athletes
Germany’s double Olympic dressage champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and show jumper Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann heave both recently opposed the previous FEI maternity leave and ranking preservation system
The previous minimum period for a medical and maternity leave, which had been included in the Ranking Rules for Jumping, Dressage, and Driving, was six months and the maximum period 12 months.
The decision was taken to shorten the minimum period to three months, without changing the maximum period, which remains 12 months. In addition, athletes will now have the possibility to come back earlier than originally indicated when they initially requested the leave.
The changes apply to riders competing in Jumping, Dressage and Driving, along with the incorporation of medical/maternity leave provisions into the FEI Endurance and FEI Para Dressage Ranking Rules for the first time
Maternity and medical leave provisions for Vaulting are currently being examined by the Technical Committee and updates will be provided in due course.
However the FEI Eventing Committee has considered including medical and maternity leave provisions in the Eventing Ranking Rules but is currently not in favour for risk management reasons.
“It is good news that the Board has allowed for greater flexibility regarding maternity leave,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said.
“The FEI was one of the first international sports organisations to introduce provisions for maternity leave in April 2010 and we remain committed to protecting the welfare of our athletes. These rules had been first put in place for Jumping and were gradually extended to Dressage and Driving. This had been done in order to allow athletes, who have had a baby, not to lose all their Rankings points while off the circuit.
“The FEI has listened to the riders who have expressed the desire to have the option of returning to competition earlier than six months and the FEI Board is very much in favour of supporting athletes wishing to achieve the best possible balance between family life and a high level sports career. The Ranking Rules in all the FEI disciplines are living documents and we will keep on reviewing the maternity and medical leave provisions to make sure they remain relevant and fair.”
