The World Equestrian Federation FEI is planning to re-admit athletes from Russia and Belarus to international equestrian events under a neutral flag. Horses and officials, such as judges, from the countries mentioned should also be allowed to take part again in the future. The so-called “protective measures” for Ukrainian athletes, which were decided after the start of the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine, are to be lifted.
The FEI board decided this before the general assembly of the association in Mexico. The board wants to determine the conditions and schedule for the return in December. International competitions in Russia and Belarus remain banned.
FEI: Other associations are role models
The International Olympic Committee has asked international federations to consider the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions under certain conditions, according to an FEI statement. In other sports, Russians and Belarusians are gradually taking part in international competitions again as neutral athletes alongside Ukrainian athletes, without any significant disruptions occurring. The “protective measures” would therefore have to be reconsidered.
When asked by the FAZ on what basis of experience the FEI had come to the conclusion that there had been no “significant disruptions” in other sports, an FEI spokeswoman replied: “The vast majority of international federations now allow Russian and Belarusian participation athletes, and to the FEI’s knowledge this has not led to any significant disruption, such as boycotts, strikes or demonstrations.”
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How the association wants to control in the future whether the athletes or owners of horses from Russia and Belarus who take part in tournaments are members of the military or otherwise support the war of aggression has not yet been decided, the spokeswoman told the FAZ: “This still needs to be clarified, which is why the board has instructed the FEI headquarters to work out the conditions for participation.” In the meantime, Russian and Belarusian athletes, horses and officials remain ineligible to take part in FEI events.
