The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has warned the Ad Hoc Committee governing of the beleaguered Equestrian Federation of India of a potential suspension from its membership alleging a breach of the FEI Statutes, especially the largely accepted Good Governance Principles, including the conduct of democratic elections.
FEI Director Governance Francisco Lima wrote to the EFI administration giving it time till September 28 to provide a written explanation in response to the reason why the current EFI governance does not appear to provide for a governing body elected by its members in accordance with a Constitution complaint with the applicable legal framework.
It is no coincidence that FEI has taken as stern a view of the inertia as Justice Tejas Karia of the High Court of Delhi seeking a Status Report with regard to the (non) compliance of the High Court’s directions made on February 18. The Court had directed Indian Olympic Association to appoint an Ad Hoc Committee, giving it three months to hold elections.
Significantly, FEI’s communication has been addressed to whom it corresponds and not to any specific individual. It is an indication that the International Federation does not know who is governing the sport in India, especially after it became known that Ms. Yashodhara Raje Scindia resigned from her position as Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee a while ago.
FEI is likely aware of the two remaining Ad Hoc Committee members being at loggerheads over several issues, with Member (Legal) Vidushpat Singhania writing to an athlete that he was unaware of the decisions made by Member (Administration) Lt. Col. Sandeep Dewan (retd) and the latter claiming the Interim Constitution had been uploaded a day before his appointment.
It also would have come to the notice of FEI that the Indian Olympic Association stepped in to resolve a selection matter, sending a veterinarian to inspect a horse’s fitness during the pre-competition quarantine ahead the Asian Games and making a selection decision that is actually the prerogative of the EFI.
Mr. Lima has indicated that a report would be made to the FEI Board before its October 13 meeting. That he has copied FEI Director Legal Mikael Rentsch and FEI Audit and Compliance Committee Chair Janice Shardlow on the communication to EFI indicates that he is not indulging in saber rattling and is serious about ensuring the reins of EFI returns to an elected body.
Those pointing out that FEI did not intervene earlier will do best to remember that, in 2024, it was the High Court of Delhi that had reinstated the Executive Committee to run the affairs of EFI since it had been convinced that the International Federation would sanction India if an elected body was not in place during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
There are some who suggest that the India is inclined to flag FEI’s ‘interference’ to the International Olympic Committee, but that will be a futile exercise since IOC does not step on any International Federation’s toes and lets it go about its business, unless its action impacts athletes of the sport concerned.
