An investigation was recently launched into duplicate results from endurance events in the UAE. (stock photo)

Suspension imposed for non-compliance with rules

A vet from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been suspended as an FEI official for failure to comply with rules and regulations.

Dr Hallvard Sommerseth was head of the veterinary department at the UAE Equestrian Federation (EEF). His provisional suspension comes into immediate effect and will last for 'an indeterminate period'.

As a result, he will not be able to take part in or be involved with the organisation of any FEI events or competitions, or any event under the jurisdiction of a national federation.

The FEI, which is the international governing body for equestrian sport, says the suspension was imposed due to Dr Sommerseth's 'consistent failure' to comply with FEI rules and regulations over a period of several years.

An investigation was recently launched into a number of duplicate results submitted to the FEI from endurance events in the UAE.

FEI's secretary general, Sabrina Zeender, said that while acting as an FEI official at a number of endurance events from April 2012-February 2014, Dr Sommerseth failed in his role as a technical delegate by allowing the events to take place without accurate timing systems.

This failure is also said to have been a contributory factor in duplicate results being submitted to FEI.

According to a report by the Equestrian Community Integrity Unit, timing systems were not used at the events and accurate timings were not taken of each competitor's phases. Instead, timings were copied from other events.

All these events and duplicate results will be deleted. Any horse/rider combination that used these results to qualify for subsequent events will be disqualified.

The EEF's provisional suspension from the sport of endurance was recently lifted after it signed an agreement with the FEI, in which it pledges to ensure horse welfare will be respected and rules and regulations strictly enforced at all endurance events.

In addition, EEF agreed that any sanctions imposed by the FEI would be implemented and enforced on a national level.

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