O’Connor waives right to appeal loss of medal

SHOW JUMPER Cian O’Connor has finally waived his right to appeal against the loss of his Olympic gold medal, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) confirmed last night.

In a statement, the governing body confirmed: "Last Friday, the FEI received an official waiver from Cian O'Connor's attorney, confirming that he will not appeal the Judicial Committee's decision of May 23, 2005. Consequently, the decision of the Judicial Committee on the disqualification of Cian O'Connor and Waterford Crystal from all the jumping competitions of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens is immediately enforced."

On Easter Sunday, at a hearing in Zurich attended by O'Connor, his legal team and advisors, the Judicial Committee ruled that O'Connor's horse, Waterford Crystal, had banned substances in its system while competing at the Athens games.