FEI President is made Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour

FEI.org

6 Sep 2014

FEI President HRH Princess Haya was today made Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest distinction.

Laurent Fabius, French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, presented HRH Princess Haya with the Legion of Honour insignia in the Prefecture of Caen (FRA), the main host city of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014.

Addressing international media and over 100 guests at the special ceremony in the magnificent setting of the Gold Salon (Salon doré), he cited HRH Princess Haya’s career as an Olympic athlete, her contribution to equestrian sport as FEI President and her success in bringing the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 to Normandy.

He also charted HRH Princess Haya’s extensive and well-documented humanitarian efforts in some of the harshest parts of the world.

“You are a remarkable person,” Laurent Fabius said. “Due to the inspiration you have given to many people over the years, through your sporting and humanitarian efforts, France is extremely happy to pronounce you Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour.”

“I accept this honour on behalf of all of my colleagues at the Fédération Equestre Internationale and everyone who contributed to the success of the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, including the 3,000 French volunteers and the wonderful people of this region, who welcomed the equestrian world to their home,” Princess Haya said in her acceptance speech.

“I accept this honour on behalf of the dedicated humanitarian aid workers that I encounter in my travels as a UN Messenger of Peace - the selfless healthcare workers from Médecins Sans Frontières, the humanitarians from the World Food Programme, and so many other committed people who serve those in need long after I have returned to the comforts of my home.

“I accept this honour knowing that I have done so little to earn it, but inspired to do more in my limited capacity to advocate for a more equitable, more compassionate and a more peaceful future. I am deeply grateful,” she concluded.

Princess Haya follows in the footsteps of her late father, HM King Hussein I, who accepted the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour in 1967.

Since its creation in 1802 by then-First Consul and later Emperor of the French Napoleon Bonaparte, the Legion of Honour has been awarded to historic personalities such as the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi; Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey; Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States and Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II; Queen Elizabeth II; former Polish President Lech Wałęsa; and Akihito, the reigning Emperor of Japan.

The list of prestigious recipients also includes American animator, producer, director, screenwriter, and philanthropist Walt Disney; one of the greatest writers of the 20th century Graham Greene; Belgian Eddy Merckx, one of the best cyclists of all time; Italian philosopher and novelist Umberto Eco; Canadian singer Céline Dion; French mountaineer and Minister of Sport Maurice Herzog, an IOC member until his death in 2012; and American musician, singer-songwriter, artist, and writer Bob Dylan.

Former FEI Presidents HRH Prince Philip and HRH Prince Bernhard both held the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.

Compiegne Horse Death Case Closed; Transparency in Question

September 8 2014
by Merri Melde-Endurance.net

Following the Open Letter to Endurance by French veterinarians, Doctors Pelissier, Seguin, Benamou-Smith, Romantzoff, and Leclerc, concerning high speeds, "tired over-run horses in the vetgates", high number of treatments required, attempts to "cheat systematically" by some competitors, and in particular the death of one mare at the May 2014 Compiegne endurance races, this group of veterinarians has responded to the FEI's investigation into the horse's death.

Of the mare Elmerita di Gallura's death FEI concluded, "results from the anti-doping test are negative and the post-mortem examination did not explain the cause of death."

Veterinarians Benamou-Smith, Pelissier, Romantzoff, and Sequin express strong objection to this apparent dismissal of the incident, and do not accept that the FEI, "whose self-professed mission is to lead an enquiry into the death of a competing horse, produces such a statement. In order to show a real transparency (the key factor in 'clean sport') in ethics and sports, the complete scientific results of these tests, which are known to the FEI since June, should to [sic] be published."

The veterinarians can't help but draw a parallel to another horse in the 2012 Florac race, which "died in very strange clinical circumstances. The horse was sampled post-mortem at the venue. No less than 21 controlled substances were identified by the french MCP (medication control program) laboratory LCH." However, the veterinarians are still waiting for the FEI to release the results of these samples from 2 years ago.

Another mare from the same stables as Elmerita di Gallura was also treated at the May Compiegne ride and received invasive treatment because she was metabolically compromised. In such cases, FEI has instituted mandatory rest periods for the safety and well-being of the horses; and in this case, the mare was entered to race in Italy 17 days later, without being blocked by FEI, "which defies official mandatory rest periods and common sense."

While FEI has publicly expressed their intention and campaign to fight doping, and to have a "clean sport," these incidences continue to show the great distance between expressed intent and execution, and the reputation of the sport of endurance suffers while the horses continue to pay the price.

The French veterinarians insist that the FEI live up to their "transparency" goals. "Although the intention expressed by the FEI to fight doping has never seemed stronger, we still have the feeling that actions are not yet sufficient to attain the declared objectives."

See the complete letter here:
http://www.endurance.net/international/UAE/2013FEIControversy/Lettre_Compiegne2.pdf

Malaysian teen riding high

Thestar.com.my - Full Article

September 7 2014
BY LIM AI LEE

PETALING JAYA: A Malaysian teenager has made his mark as one of the world’s top riders at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014, dubbed as the planet’s most prestigious international equestrian event.

Mohd T. Aseef Abdul Mutalib, 17, who is the youngest competitor among riders from 72 nations, successfully completed the Endurance category where he clinched 27th position in the Games held in Normandy, France.

The Games, which began on Aug 23 and ends today, attracted almost 1,000 of the world’s best riders and unite the world championships of seven disciplines governed by the International Equestrian Fede­ration (FEI) – Jumping, Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining.

It was a proud moment for the Malaysian team when Aseef, wearing his riding gear and helmet in Jalur Gemilang colours, waved the national flag from his horse, Eladina Kungfu after completing the 160km ride in just over 10 hours on Aug 23...

Read more here:
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/09/07/Malaysian-teen-riding-high-17yearold-is-one-of-the-top-riders-at-the-world-equestrian-championship/

Full credit to Normandy for a job well done

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

World Endurance Games delivers on all counts

By Leslie Wilson Jr, Racing & Special Features Writer
Published: 18:22 September 6, 2014

I consider myself very lucky to have had the opportunity to go to the World Equestrian Games, which are taking place in the scenic city of Normandy, France. I would say it was a once in a lifetime kind of experience for me.

Most of my career I’ve been covering the flat — Derby’s, Breeders’ Cups, Arcs — that sort of thing, but this experience was so different.

The World Equestrian Games are all encompassing. It gives you a totally different kind of buzz. Although I do not wish to sound clichéd, I think that they totally deserve to be referred to as the ‘horse’ Olympics. The time that I spent watching the dressage, eventing, vaulting or endurance riding, put a lot into perspective for me in the way that I was already looking forward to my next equestrian event.

The 160km endurance ride would have to be one of the highlights of the Games, considering that it was won in exemplary fashion by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. Perhaps not too many people have a complete understanding of endurance, which has to be one of the toughest challenges in sport. It’s not just about strength and stamina, of horse and rider; it goes way beyond what the mind can comprehend. Mostly it’s about trust and friendship...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/full-credit-to-normandy-for-a-job-well-done-1.1381457

France face disqualification from Rio 2016 eventing after horse fails test

Insidethegames.biz - Full Article

Friday, 05 September 2014
By Gary Anderson

Qalao de Mers, ridden by Frenchman Maxime Livio has tested positive for a banned medical substance in Normandy and could miss out on Rio 2016 ©AFP/Getty ImagesThe French eventing team faces the prospect of being thrown out of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after Qalao de Mers, ridden by Maxime Livio, tested positive for a banned medical substance at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has confirmed the horse, part of the French team that finished fourth in the team eventing competition ensuring qualification for Rio 2016, tested positive for the controlled medication substance acepromazine, banned during competition.

The sedative was found after a sample was taken from Qalao de Mers last Friday (August 29), who also partnered Livio to fifth in the individual competition.

The case is now set to go before an FEI Tribunal - on a date yet to be announced - but if found guilty then the French team and Maxime Livio will be disqualified from the World Equestrian Games and will also be banned from competing at Rio 2016.

The FEI also revealed a second horse tested positive for a prohibited medical substance on August 28.

Tra Flama, ridden by South African Giliese de Villiers in the endurance competition, returned a positive reading for phenylbutazone and its metabolite oxyphenbutazone...

Read more here:
http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/equestrian/1022390-france-face-disqualification-from-rio-2016-eventing-competition-after-controlled-substance-found-at-world-equestrian-games

FEI announces two Controlled Medication cases at World Equestrian Games

FEI.org

5 Sep 2014

The FEI has announced that two horses competing at the FEI World Equestrian Games have tested positive for Controlled Medication substances. Controlled Medications are substances that are regularly used to treat horses but which are not allowed in competition in order to maintain a level playing field.

Samples taken on 28 August from the horse Tra Flama (FEI ID 103QH09), ridden in Endurance by Giliese de Villiers (Republic of South Africa), have returned positive for the Controlled Medication substance Phenylbutazone and its metabolite Oxyphenbutazone. Phenylbutazone is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory used for the treatment of pain. Tra Flama was vetted out at the second Vet Gate on the Endurance course.

Samples taken on 29 August from the horse Qalao des Mers (FEI ID 103MQ19), ridden in Eventing by Maxime Livio (France), have returned positive for the Controlled Medication substance Acepromazine. Acepromazine is a sedative. Qalao des Mers finished fifth individually and was a member of the fourth-placed French team.

“It is the first duty of a regulator to ensure clean sport and a level playing field and we do this by conducting an ongoing and very comprehensive testing programme,” FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos said.

“We had clean World Equestrian Games in 2010 in Kentucky and at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. Our system works and sends out a strong message to our athletes and their entourage that clean sport is our absolute top priority.

“We carried out an intensive awareness campaign prior to the Games and also offered pre-arrival testing to all participants, so it is very disappointing that we have two positives for Controlled Medication substances at the Games, especially when it is well known and well accepted that both these substances are not permitted in competition. Although these are Controlled Medication not doping substances, we take this very seriously.”

The FEI has confirmed that all equine samples taken in the first week of the Games in the disciplines of Dressage, Para-Dressage and Reining are negative, and that there are no other positives in Endurance and Eventing.

A total of 137 horses were tested in the first week of the Games – 49 in Endurance (28% of 173 starters), 24 in Eventing (26% of 91 starters), 22 in Dressage (22% of 100 starters), 21 in Reining (26% of 82 starters) and 21 in Para-Equestrian Dressage (21% of 100 starters).

In addition to random testing, the FEI conducts compulsory testing of all individual medal winners at the World Equestrian Games, and at least one horse from each of the medal winning teams. To ensure the integrity of all processes, representatives of the Equestrian Community Integrity Unit, including Chairman Lord Stevens, have been on-site throughout the Games.

The above Controlled Medication positives will not result in an automatic provisional suspension, but will go before the FEI Tribunal after the Games at a date to be agreed between all parties. World Equestrian Games cases are not eligible for the FEI administrative (fast-track) procedure.

As at the Olympic Games, a positive result for a team member can result in the disqualification of the whole team. In the Qalao des Mers case, this could mean disqualification of the French Eventing team and loss of Olympic qualification for Rio 2016. It is the role of the FEI Tribunal to rule on what sanctions apply.

As part of its Clean Sport campaign, the FEI offered all National Federations the opportunity to have a full screen Pre-Arrival Testing for horses from 21 July until two weeks’ prior to arrival at the Games. Additionally, elective testing for specific Controlled Medication substances was also offered close to the event.

All equine samples taken prior to and during the Games are tested at the FEI Approved Laboratory in Paris (FRA). Testing is conducted at the Laboratory using a bar-coded system, which guarantees anonymity.

Australia: More than 175 horse riders in Clifton endurance event

Warwickdailynews.com.au - Full Article

5th Sep 2014

MORE than 175 horse riders, including international riders, will be at Clifton Recreational Grounds from midnight for the Queensland Endurance Riders Association State Championships.

This will be the first time the event has been held at Clifton, as it is held at a different venue each year.

There will be four different rides: the 160km main event, which begins at midnight, a 123km ride starting at 2am, a 100km ride beginning at 4am, and a training ride at 6am, which will be 40km...

Read more here:
http://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/news/rider-in-for-long-haul-at-clifton/2376347/