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USET
Announces Breakdown Of Negotiations On Governance Issue
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Gladstone,
NJ—April 4, 2002—With great disappointment the United
States Equestrian Team (USET) announces that USET and USA Equestrian
(USAE) negotiating teams have been unable to reach a mutually
satisfactory conclusion to negotiations aimed at determining how
best to govern equestrian sports in this country. Although the
boards of both organizations had previously agreed upon a structure
for the new National Governing Body For Equestrian Sports, USAE
negotiators would not continue discussion of details under the
previously announced plan.
The
USET has requested assistance from the U.S. Olympic Committee
(USOC) to encourage the parties to restart the talks according
to the principles approved by the boards of both organizations
in separate meetings on January 10.
The
USET Board of Trustees voted overwhelmingly on April 4 that, absent
agreement from USAE to immediately resume discussions within the
previously board-approved framework, the USOC Hearing Committee
should make public its decision reached following the challenge
hearing in Austin, Texas last October.
The
USET cited the key point of contention to be the process for forming
the Board of the to-be-created National Governing Body (NGB) that
would emerge from the consolidation of the USET and USAE, a point
that had been agreed upon in the framework approved by both boards
in January. "While this process had been explicitly agreed
upon by both sides, it became a specific point of disagreement
by USAE and, more significantly, it represents the main problem
in the negotiations, namely the unwillingness of USAE President
Alan Balch to commit to implementing the agreed upon NGB structure,"
said USET President Dr. Armand Leone, Jr. "Alan's penchant
for continually changing his position on previously agreed-upon
points has led to a complete removal of credibility. Consequently,
our negotiating team came to the unanimous conclusion that, under
the current USAE leadership of Alan Balch, no progress toward
resolution of the governance issues facing our sport can be made
nor can confidence in any commitment of USAE to implement any
proposed structure be had."
The
USET has remained committed to achieving a positive resolution,
but only one that is fair and is consistent with the previously
approved NGB structure. Since that is no longer acceptable to
USAE, the USET must allow the USOC to determine how the sport
should be run. The USET is prepared to continue supporting America's
equestrian athletes as much as possible and to accept whatever
role is appropriate for the USET as determined by the USOC.
The United States
Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization that selects, trains,
equips and finances equestrians of the highest possible standard
to represent our country in major international competition, including
the Olympic Games and the World Championships. To accomplish this,
the USET seeks out and nurtures the development of talented athletes
- riders, drivers and horses - and provides the support and guidance
they need to help them attain their fullest potential. For more
information on the USET, please call (908) 234-1251, or visit
USET ONLINE at www.uset.org
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