Following a thorough investigation into results from the three-star dressage event at Lier (Belgium), the Fédération Equestre Internationale has found evidence of nationalistic judging in favour of a Ukrainian athlete, Inna Logutenkova, by two Ukrainian judges in the Grand Prix Special test on March 2.
As a result, the FEI Dressage Committee, with the full support of the FEI Executive Board, has ruled that the results from the CDI*** Grand Prix Special will not count towards the Olympic and World Rankings.
Logutenkova scored a 73.98 percent in the Grand Prix Special with Don Gregorious at the Lier CDI, which was just days before the March 6 Olympic qualifying deadline. The two Ukrainian judges, Maria Dzhumadzhuk and Iryna Sulga, awarded her scores of 75.30 and 75.60 percent. The scores from the other judges were: France, Marietta Almasy (73.00%); Belarus, Nataliya Petukhova (74.20%); and Finland, Maria Colliander (71.80%). Logutenkova’s previous best score in the Grand Prix Special with Don Gregorious was 72.02 percent at the Deauville CDI (France) in July 2015.
Six spots for individual riders at the Rio Olympic Games from the groups A (Northwest Europe), B (Southwest Europe) and C (Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia) are available to represntatives from countries not qualifying teams or qualifying through Group qualifications. The FEI’s decision to not include the Lier Grand Prix Special result did not affect Logutenkova’s standing in those rankings—she’s still sixth and secured a spot in the Rio Olympic Games.
ADVERTISEMENT
In addition, the FEI Executive Board has agreed that it will recommend to the FEI Bureau support of the Dressage Committee in reviewing the judging by establishing a working group composed of committee members and external experts who will look into and supply proposals to address these matters.
“This was a clear example of nationalistic judging, and the FEI takes this very seriously,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “The FEI has a duty to take the appropriate measures if it is shown that nationalistic judging has occurred. Judging at all FEI events must be absolutely fair, and the integrity of the competitions and of the judges themselves must be beyond reproach.”
As a result of the removal of the Lier Grand Prix Special results, the final allocation of quota places for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games has now been completed. Confirmed Olympic qualifications are available on the FEI website.
Individuals qualifying through Group allocation are: Inessa Merkulova and Marina Aframeeva of Russia; Anna Kasprzak and Mikala Gundersen of Denmark; Victoria Max-Theurer of Austria; Fanny Verliefden of Belgium; Megan Lane of Canada; Yvonne Losos de Muniz of the Dominican Republic; Christian Zimmerman of Palestine; and Julie Brougham of New Zealand.
Individuals qualifying through rankings are: Valentina Truppa of Italy; Judy Reynolds of Ireland; Marcela Krinke Susmelj of Switzerland; Agnete Kirk Thinggaard of Denmark; Lars Petersen of Denmark; and Logutenkova.
