Pentathlon-CAS rejects the appeal of the Danish association against the abandonment of horse riding

A logo is pictured on the new headquarters of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), an independent institution which resolves around 900 legal disputes in sport through arbitration and mediation, in Lausanne, Switzerland, June 27, 2022. REUTERS / Denis Balibouse

July 7 (Reuters) – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday rejected an appeal by the Danish Modern Pentathlon Association (MPADK) against the sport’s governing body, the UIPM, over its decision to withdraw equestrianism of the Olympic program from 2028.

The UIPM decided in November 2021 to withdraw equestrianism from the 2028 Los Angeles Games following an outcry after a German trainer hit a horse that refused to jump a fence at the Tokyo Games.

In February 2022, the MPADK appealed to the CAS to overturn the decision, claiming that the UIPM executive board lacked the power to make the decision and breached the UIPM statutes and code of ethics. .

“After considering all of the evidence presented to it, the CAS Panel has dismissed the appeal and affirmed the validity of the contested decision. The decision was issued to the parties today,” CAS said in a statement. Thursday.

The UIPM welcomed the CAS decision, saying it took its legal responsibilities “very seriously”.

“The CAS decision confirms the legality of the decision taken by the UIPM Executive Committee and allows the UIPM to continue its democratic and transparent efforts to ensure a secure future for modern pentathlon at the Olympic Games through the process of the new discipline of the pentathlon,” the UIPM said in a statement. statement.

The modern pentathlon was introduced at the 1912 Stockholm Games as a representation of the skills required of a cavalry officer – fencing, swimming, riding, shooting and running.

The sport’s governing body said in May it had selected two variations of obstacle courses to test from more than 60 options to replace horse riding.

The move came after German trainer Kim Raisner hit a horse at the Tokyo Olympics last year when it refused to jump a fence, sparking criticism of the sport.

Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; edited by Clare Fallon

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