FESTIVAL MONDIAL D?ENDURANCE: Compiegne abandons it's sponsor-Al Wrsan, Abu Dhabi

Intercontinental NewsLetter: NEWS & MESSAGES 03/05

Important Press Release:

FESTIVAL MONDIAL D?ENDURANCE
Compiègne - France
24, 25, 26, 27 et 28 août 2005
CHAMPIONNAT FEI D?EUROPE OPEN D?ENDURANCE ? CEI****
FEI European Open Endurance Championship ? CEI****
MONDIAL DES 7 ET 8 ANS ? CEI**
7 & 8 years old ride ? CEI**

Communiqué de presse n° 3, le 11 juillet 2005
COMPIEGNE ABANDONS ITS SPONSOR :WARSAN STABLES - ABU DHABI

The organising committee of the Festival Mondial d?Endurance de Compiegne which will host the forthcoming FEI Open European Endurance Championships and the ?Mondial d?Endurance of 7 & 8 year old horses? this August abandons its sponsor, Warsan Stables from Abu Dhabi (UAE). This partnership has been signed last October for this international event.

The OC abandoned this partnership for transparency and fairness vis-à-vis the world of equestrian sports that it wished to see respected. Indeed, a competitor from Warsan Stables was subject to proceedings last January following a case of doping at the FEI Endurance World Championships in Dubai (UAE). The FEI Judicial Committee had dismissed the positive medication case.

Barbara Lissarague and the Fédération Française d?Equitation (the French Equestrian Federation), has appealed the decision of the FEI Judicial Committee to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Barbara Lissarague (FRA) finished second in the Championship.

We strongly support our rider Barbara and the Fédération Française d?Equitation to win the case and Barbara, declared as official winner. This is inevitable in the best interest of the sport.

Due to increased awareness :

- by the case of doping in equestrian sports at the last Olympic games in Athens (revealed in the fall and judged throughout last winter and spring) ;

- and more recently in France, once again in the world of racing, where an investigation for doping is still underway, the Compiegne organising committee wished to free itself from all possible future criticism.

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