Swedish Ecu medal-winning showjumper Douglas Lindelöw has denied allegations of mistreating horses, as he has been suspended from nationwide crew actions and world festival – and reported to the police.
On Monday (11 March) Swiss newsletter Aftonbladet reported that an elite showjumper “abuses and punishes horses after deficient effects”, and that 5 grooms had come ahead with allegations of mistreatment.
On the time the rider had no longer been publicly named, and on Tuesday in a observation a spokesman for the Swedish equestrian federation said that “a rider belonging to one of the most leaping squads will take a wreck from all nationwide team-related actions” – and that the federation have been taking the guidelines “extraordinarily critically”. The spokesman, who added that the rider “does no longer belong to the championship squad”, mentioned the verdict used to be “no longer lately a disciplinary measure, however a pause throughout additional assessment”.
In an extra observation on Wednesday the spokesman mentioned the federation have been in touch with “a number of individuals who testify to an motion that might point out against the law” – and that the rider in query have been reported to the police.
“Within the remaining 24 hours, we have now been in touch with quite a few individuals who have enjoy with the rider. What they let us know signifies that we can not rule out crime within the dealing with of horses and that implies we make a choice to record it to the police. If against the law is suspected, it’s at all times essential to let the police examine,” mentioned Johan Fyrberg, the Swedish equestrian federation’s secretary normal.
Mr Fyrberg added that as of Wednesday (13 March) the federation is not going to sanction world festival for the rider “in the interim”.
“Our recreation should be characterized by way of pleasure and love for the horses. Due to this fact, there are lots of folks in equestrian Sweden who nowadays are extraordinarily unhappy, indignant and annoyed by way of the tales and images we have now been uncovered to. There’s not anything that belongs in equestrian sports activities,” he mentioned.
As of late (Friday 15 March) Douglas Lindelöw issued a observation denying the allegations.
“I need to deal with the intense allegations which were made in opposition to me and the operations I oversee, as reported within the media. I totally recognise the gravity of the location however firmly refute the accusations of horse mismanagement. Whilst I’m on no account infallible, I take care of that our care and coaching of horses are carried out with utmost appreciate and in compliance with established norms and rules,” he mentioned.
“In mild of the hot allegations, we’re in fact ready to totally cooperate with any doable investigations or inquiries – which we welcome. We’re open to enforcing additional measures to make sure and support the welfare of our animals if essential. This has been showed by way of inspections by way of government through the years. Simply this week, I initiated an unbiased veterinary exam of the entire horses. The end result: No remarks.”
Douglas added that he “urges the Swedish equestrian federation to begin a broader assessment of the business in Sweden as issues are sometimes raised about horses being driven too laborious and fallacious strategies getting used”.
“It’s in everybody’s pastime to entirely examine those issues,” he mentioned.
Douglas made his senior crew debut on the 2015 Ecu Championships, having gained medals at adolescence stage. He used to be at the crew that took silver on the 2017 Europeans on Zacramento. He has ridden at 3 International Cup finals. In 2021 he used to be a part of the Swedish crew that positioned fourth on the Europeans.
As of late the spokesman for the Swedish Equestrian Federation advised H&H that “the truth that the rider says he desires to take part in any investigation is just right and we welcome that”.
“For us on the other hand, it does no longer exchange anything else. The continued procedure continues consistent with plan.”
An FEI spokesman mentioned the allegations are “very stressful” and that the alleged behaviour has “no position in equestrian recreation”.
“The FEI is in shut touch with the Swedish nationwide federation and the federation has undertaken to the FEI that it’s going to no longer input the athlete in FEI competitions whilst the subject is underneath investigation,” he mentioned.
“Additional to that endeavor, the FEI has no longer deemed it essential to factor a provisional suspension at this level however we’re tracking the location carefully.”
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