The eighth FEI Sports Forum has taken place at the IMD Business School in Lausanne (SUI) on 15th and 16th April with a diverse programme covering gender equality, Tokyo 2020 preparations and climate mitigation, review of the FEI legal system, the future of Reining and the entire second day dedicated to Endurance.
The opening afternoon session of the first day was dedicated to a review of the FEI’s legal system (Chapter VIII of the FEI General Regulations), including proposals for revised areas of responsibilities for Ground Juries, the role of the Appeal Committee, a possible FEI HQ administrative disciplinary process, the start date of suspensions, sanctions and measures related to Eventing Risk Management and a proposed way forward regarding pony measuring.
The proposed legal changes were presented by FEI Legal Director Mikael Rentsch and Deputy Legal Director Áine Power, with the proposals being debated by delegates and a panel of experts – Swedish Jumping chef d’equipe Henrik Ankarcrona, Italian Chef de Mission Andrea White, Australian Eventing athlete Paul Tapner, and Chair of the FEI Jumping Committee Stephan Ellenbruch. Chair of the FEI Eventing Committee David O’Connor spoke about sanctions related to Eventing Risk Management.
The review of the legal system is aimed at creating a more user-friendly legal structure that is clear, cost effective and results in efficient decisions being taken by the appropriate sanctioning body each time. Although most of the topics applied across the board for all disciplines, some topics were raised which had specific impact on eventing
A proposal to change the current legal powers and responsibilities of Officials and other appointed bodies during events was put forward for discussion. We’ve outlined some of the topics below and indicated where you can find the discussion in the video, but we would suggest that you take the time to watch all the way through if you can
Removal of the Appeal Committee
The new system would enable all onsite matters to be dealt with by the Ground Jury but still allow for athletes to have the right to be heard and decisions to be appealed to the FEI Tribunal post-event.
The consensus of opinion was this was a good move across the disciplines as long as there are ‘Ground Juries who are willing to listen’ and that ‘we want it handled quickly’
(Watch from 0:18:31)
The use of technology came up during this discussion (at 37 minutes) and was further taken up in the Video Evidence discussion
Video evidence
(Watch from 48 minutes)
Panellists and delegates also discussed whether there is a need to update the video evidence rule, which has been in place since 2012, and particularly whether smart phone video content should be admissible as evidence. It provoked an interesting discussion with most of the panel believing that allowing non-official footage is ‘definitely dangerous’ while Paul Tapner put forward the view that ‘every athlete in eventing would be in opposition’ to that view i.e. that unofficial video footage should be allowed
As a video company intricately involved with the process of filming the cross country and, as a supplier of official footage to events at all events, this is a very interesting topic for us although at this stage we are not entering into the debate!
Disciplinary offences by Athlete
(Watch from 1:14:00)
The creation of a list of offences and corresponding sanctions based on the seriousness of offences, which would create more consistent and predictable sanctions for all parties involved.
- Postponing the start date of suspensions, particularly when the suspension period runs into the “off season” and has no real impact on the athlete (of particular importance in the eventing world)
- Allowing FEI HQ the possibility of imposing sanctions for less serious offences, which would allow the FEI to be more responsive when a rule breach occurs while leaving the FEI Tribunal to focus on more serious cases.
- The issuing of yellow warning cards to athletes as disciplinary action for offences committed by their support personnel.
Eventing risk management sanctions
(Watch from 1:51:00)
David O’Connor presented a new proposal to the Eventing Rules on sanctions related to Risk Management. Under current rules, two recorded warnings lead to a yellow warning card, while two yellow warning cards for the same offence within one year, lead to a four month suspension.
The following changes were proposed:
Athletes will receive a recorded warning for dangerous riding
- Three recorded warnings within one year will lead to a two month suspension
- Two yellow warning cards within one year will result in a two month suspension
The proposed changes would also allow the FEI to designate a later start date for the suspension if the period runs into the Eventing off-season and has no real impact on the athlete.
