Helander quits FEI
In making the announcement yesterday, the FEI said: “Dr Helander made his decision to open the way for the important changes that will occur in the near future with the implementation of the new structure of the FEI, which was approved last April at the FEI General Assembly in London.”
Dr Helander’s resignation takes effect on August 31. The Swede has held the post for 10 years.
In the last year of Dr Helander’s stewardship, the FEI has come under critical scrutiny, notably, with its handling of issues arising at the Athens Olympics, such as the Cian O’Connor drugs case. Also embarrassing for the FEI was the case of event rider Bettina Hoy, in which the Court of Arbitration of Sport over-ruled the federation, deeming she should be penalised for a show jumping error, a decision that cost her individual gold and Germany team gold.
Recently, the FEI was forced to drop a case against World Endurance Championships winner Sheikh Hazza Al Nahyan, whose horse failed a drugs test. The UAE rider was not informed of the testing of the B sample and, as such, did not have a witness present, as he was entitled.
