USOC
Hearing Panel Recommends NGB Status of USA Equestrian Be Revoked
USET
Acknowledged As De Facto Joint NGB For Last 50 Years
Gladstone,
NJ—June 10, 2002—The United States Equestrian Team (USET)
is pleased to report that the United States Olympic Committee (USOC)
Hearing Panel reviewing the status of USA Equestrian (USAE), formerly
the AHSA, as the National Governing Body (NGB) for equestrian sport
has determined that the USET has been, and is, primarily responsible
for governing the international equestrian programs for the United
States.
The
Hearing Panel ruled that USAE does not meet the criteria for recognition
as the NGB having delegated many, if not most, of its responsibilities
to the USET over the past half-century. Accordingly, "the Panel
recommends to the [USOC] Board that the formal recognition now held
by the USAE be revoked."
The
Panel specifically stated that it "denies all of the affirmative
defenses raised by USAE" in connection with the proceedings.
The USOC Hearing Panel also stated that the USET presently does
not meet all of the criteria of an NGB, an observation that was
expected since the USET has never before had formal NGB responsibility.
The
Hearing Panel provided for a 180-day probationary period prior to
formally declaring an NGB vacancy. The USOC has recommended that
in order to have any further role in the governance of the sport
of equestrian, USAE must work with the USET during this probationary
period to form a new organization to act as NGB. The Hearing Panel
recommended that any new organization that may be formed to replace
USAE as the NGB, "must be staffed by employees with equivalent
experience to those of the USET in the areas relating to the international
aspects of the sport..." and, furthermore, must "establish
a Board of Directors/Executive Committee voting structure that sufficiently
protects the International Operating Division [USET]..."
The
USET Board of Trustees will meet shortly to determine how best to
proceed in light of the findings of the USOC Hearing Panel, including
any modifications to leadership that may be appropriate, and of
the new lawsuit filed by Alan F. Balch against the USET this past
week. In the mean time, the USET will continue to support our equestrian
athletes for the 2002 World Equestrian Games and other international
competitions.
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