Rajasthan equestrian body wants international body to censure EFI

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 4

The Rajasthan Equestrian Association has knocked on the doors of the sport’s international federation (FEI) for gross violation of the Olympic Charter by the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI).

The Rajasthan body through its lawyer Vidhuspat Singhania has sent in a detailed representation citing EFI for gross violations of both the FEI and International Olympic Committee (IOC) charters.

The report sent to FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibanez and chair of FEI’s audit & compliance committee Brian Mangan claims that EFI, which has been led by Indian Army’s Quartermaster General (QMG) for years, is in violation of key statutes of “political neutrality and government interference”.

Incidentally, the EFI top brass is scheduled to meet Sports Ministry officials tomorrow. EFI secretary general Col Jaiveer Singh was unavailable for a comment.

Singhania has sought FEI to conduct an independent audit into the administration and functioning of the EFI.

“…With regards to any substantial breach found, provide the EFI with an opportunity and the requisite time to take remedial steps as may be recommended by the EFI in order to amend its statutes and governance structure, eliminate governmental interference and ensure greater economy,” the report read.

The detailed representation lists how the election of the EFI president is being conducted in the most undemocratic manner. Lieutenant General Ashok Ambre, who was the then QMG, was appointed unopposed as the EFI president on September 30, 2017. He was given a farewell after his superannuation on January 19, 2019. The current president, Lieutenant General Gopal R, took over on March 29, 2019.

“The above stated facts show that there are no elections conducted for the post of the president of the EFI and the incumbent QMG of the Indian Army is the de facto president of the EFI who is nominated and appointed in a unanimous and unopposed manner,” it read.