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.

However, it also found that the 25-year-old Meath-based rider had not deliberately set out to affect the performance of the gelding. The committee accepted his explanation and that of his vet that the drugs fluphenazine and zuclopenthixol had been administered to the horse as a calming measure while it underwent hydrotherapy treatment for a leg injury.

A three-month ban from international competition due to expire on July 11 was imposed on O'Connor. However, he continues to compete on a domestic level and currently leads the IJM TimberFrame National Grand Prix League.

O'Connor had the option of appealing the FEI decision to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport. He had already indicated in early April that he would not take this route, but only officially informed the FEI of this last Friday. The case had been mired in controversy and included, notably, the theft of a urine sample which had been taken from Waterford Crystal.

As a result of O'Connor's decision, Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa (Baloubet du Rouet) is awarded the gold medal, with American Chris Kappler (Royal Kaliber) and Germand Marco Kutscher (Montender II) upgraded to silver and bronze.

The FEI said it had officially informed the International Olympic Committee of the development and it said the IOC will redistribute the medals in conjunction with the national Olympic committees of the countries concerned.

Also, the Irish team is officially eliminated from the Athens competition.