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Demand
For Arbitration Made: USA Equestrian Responds To Formal
Complaint
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USA
Equestrian, the National Equestrian Federation, announced today
that a formal demand for arbitration has been made with the American
Arbitration Association, relating to a recent United States Olympic
Committee ruling on its status as the sport's national governing
body. The USOC board of directors affirmed its hearing panel report
on the matter in early August, and under federal law, a demand
for binding arbitration of such a decision, by any "aggrieved
party," must be made within 30 days.
Speaking
for all six officers of USA Equestrian, its president, Alan F.
Balch, commented, "USA Equestrian has come to the conclusion
that arbitration is the best forum in which a full and independent
hearing of all relevant facts can be achieved, absent an immediate
mediated settlement. We are confident in this course of action
for many reasons; but three essential issues are clear:
* USA Equestrian is inclusive, financially sound and well-managed;
USET is not.
* USA Equestrian represents a broad cross-section of equestrian
events and equestrian athletes; USET shares representation with
us of only an athletic elite who compete in select international
events.
*
USA Equestrian is committed to broad, fair competition; USET's
dependence on a very small group of supporters has raised questions
about conflicts of interest and undue influence, and subjected
it to constant fiscal uncertainty and distress.
We are committed to being heard fairly and independently on these
core issues. While this is a sad day for the sport, we have come
to this place only because the USET has declined any effort to
continue to resolve the sport's governance issues through mediation."
In
response to USET's continuing claim of improper delegation of
governance functions, USA Equestrian announced immediate steps
to enhance its international activities and oversight.
Balch
stated, "I am pleased to announce that USA Equestrian's Planning
Committee, its NGB Advisory Committee, its International High
Performance Advisory Committee, its Budget and Finance Committee
and its Officers will begin promptly a series of public, webcast
meetings to plan and institute all the details to accomplish the
implementation of the enhanced international programs and oversight
for all post-World Equestrian Games activities. Therefore, beginning
with any international events after the World Championships in
September, no further financial, logistical, administrative, or
other assistance from the USET will be accepted by our organization,
except as specifically approved by our Executive Committee or
Board following receipt of recommendations from the Officers and
the appropriate Committees in the Federation."
Reports
on developments as well as information for joining the above webcasts
will be available on USA Equestrian's web site. All legal documents
filed today will be available on the USA Equestrian website at
http://www.equestrian.org/EquestrianGovernance/index.asp.
Questions and comments should be made to gov@equestrian.org.
USA
Equestrian Inc., as the National Equestrian Federation of the
U.S., is the regulatory body for the Olympic and World Championship
sports of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show
jumping, and vaulting, as well as 19 other breeds and disciplines
of equestrian competition. As
the country's largest multi-breed organization, the Federation
has over 80,000 members and recognizes more than 2,800 competitions
nationwide each year. It governs all aspects of competition, including
educating and licensing all judges, stewards, and technical delegates
who officiate at these shows.
VISION STATEMENT
The vision of USA Equestrian is to provide leadership for equestrian
sport in the United States of America, promoting the pursuit of
excellence from the grass roots to the Olympic Games, based on
a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its
horses, and embracing this vision, to be the best national equestrian
federation in the world.
www.equestrian.org
.
