O’Connor rounds on ‘unworkable’HSI plan

SHOW JUMPER Cian O’Connor says proposals put forward to eradicate the use of improper substances and practices in equestrian sport are “unworkable” and says Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is out of touch with the equestrian community.

The proposals were contained in a report published last week by an independent expert group set up by HSI in the wake of Lantinus, the horse ridden by Denis Lynch, testing positive for a banned medication at last year’s Olympics.

HSI chairman Joe Walsh has vowed to implement the report’s recommendations fully, but O’Connor yesterday said the recommendations should not have been published without consultation with riders and others in the sport directly affected. He also feels publication should not have come without HSI being prepared for immediate action on its proposals.

“I, as much as anybody, am in favour of anything that is for the betterment of the sport, making it fair and clean and the expert group must be praised for their efforts,” said O’Connor.

“But I am shocked that HSI would put the report into the public domain without first discussing it with those involved in the sport on a day-to-day basis.

“They should have met with the relevant people and I’m astonished so few from the coal-face were consulted. As a result, I believe the report is seriously flawed, as the vast majority of it will not be implemented because of the practicalities, legalities and the cost involved.

“Even by the admission of the expert group’s chairman Dr Gordon Holmes, he does not know how it will be implemented,” said O’Connor, who was stripped of the gold medal he won at the 2004 Olympics when his horse Waterford Crystal tested positive for banned substances.

Among the group’s recommendations were that unannounced visits be permitted by a vet/inspector to riders’ yard/facilities “on receipt of a bona fide complaint”.

Also proposed is that riders keep a log-book for the recording of all substances used on their international horses; the setting up of an independent disciplinary panel; that a licensing system be introduced, with licences issued only to riders who are “fully trained in the care and management of horses and are educated fully in complying with medication and anti-doping control programmes“; and that the emergency treatment procedure, where a horse can be permitted to compete in events even when there are prohibited substances in its system, should be clarified.

“I welcome any measures that would ensure no repeat of what happened at the last two Olympics,” said O’Connor. “But many riders feel there is a lack of respect from HSI. Riders would have had a lot to offer. I have no problem with anybody coming to my yard and no hassle supplying log books, but I do not feel the recommendations are enforceable by HSI.”

At present, Showjumping Ireland, the governing body for the sport on a domestic basis and an affiliate of HSI, is the only body to undertake testing in Ireland. This week, it criticised Holmes’s description in an interview on RTÉ radio’s lunchtime show that the SJI system bordered on “useless”.

The Showjumpers Club also indicated that it would be calling a meeting soon to discuss the report.

O’Connor accepted that, considering his Olympics experience, some would say he had no right to criticise the report’s recommendations, but he said Holmes’s subsequent radio comments were out of order.

“I was reluctant to say anything, but I feel Holmes’s radio comments were scandalous. He should be praised for his work in compiling this report. It is put together as he was instructed to do by HSI, but his radio interview was unreal and he did a lot of damage to the sport.

“I have spoken to riders, who say they are unhappy. Since my own fiasco, I have kept my head down, but now I feel compelled to respond.

I know I will face criticism for this. I have jumped over 70 nations cup competitions and I was proud to do it, and of course I am aware that the horse’s welfare must come first. HSI, though, must realise this is a business for riders. They must work with the riders and I cannot accept the railroading of people, as they are doing with this report.

“The bottom line is that they had to be seen to put out a report that was not a whitewash, but it must be workable.”

A HSI spokesperson pointed out “the group did advertise for submissions and it was open to any person, including riders, to make one if they so wished”.

The spokesman added: “The implementation of the report now falls to Horse Sport Ireland. In the course of this we will be happy to meet anyone who feels they have a contribution to make towards ensuring the report is implemented as effectively as possible.”