‘No regrets’ as CAS rejects Cian O’Connor’s Aachen appeal

Show jumper Cian O’Connor yesterday said he had “no regrets” after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected his appeal against the debacle at the European Championships that cost Ireland a place in the Olympics.

However, he also said he intended to plan for a year that could yet see Ireland field a team at Rio de Janeiro, though he admitted it was a long shot that would see Ireland as first reserve taking the place of a country that had withdrawn. There is precedence, as, in an ironic twist, Ireland opted not to send a show jumping team to the Sydney Olympics.

Yesterday, O’Connor said he needed to turn his focus to the competition arena as he awaited an explanation by CAS for its decision, which is due, according to the Swiss-based body “in the coming weeks”.