O’Connor confident
Andrew Coonan gave an unequivocal "yes" when asked yesterday if the Olympic champion believed he could prevail and retain his gold medal. However, he refused to divulge how O'Connor plans to achieve his aims.
He made his comments just hours before the FEI confirmed the receipt of O'Connor's written explanation for the presence of human anti-psychotic drugs in his mount, Waterford Crystal. The comprehensive document sent to the FEI Lausanne headquarters yesterday just ahead of the deadline numbers 18 pages.
Coonan did not rule out augmenting his client's case with "supplemental evidence by way of the oral hearing." That oral hearing is likely to take place "by the end of January or mid-February", the head of the FEI Communications Department said yesterday. Muriel Faienza also said the FEI Judicial Committee would be sent O'Connor's written submission immediately, "probably by email".
"They will consider if they require expert advice and will then set a date for the oral hearing," she said.
She confirmed the four-man committee which includes Irishman Philip O'Connor would normally arrive at a decision on the day of the oral hearing. Within a couple of days they would produce "a modulated decision", a detailed breakdown of the reasoning behind their verdict.
Once this is communicated to the 25-year-old rider, he has 30 days to appeal to the International Court for the Arbitration of Sport (CAS), if he disputes the FEI verdict or sanction.
If the FEI find against O'Connor and he waives his right of appeal, the federation can ask the International Olympic Committee to change the result. Thus, Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa would swap silver for gold and Ireland's Kevin Babington would move up to joint fourth.
