Triple Australian Olympic medalist Shane Rose, who is preparing for his fourth Olympic Games, was excluded from competition on Sunday for wearing a “mankini” swimsuit during a show jumping event, with the Federation accusing him of infringing attire. the dress code for riders.
Rose, one of the stars of the Australian equestrian world, wore a fluorescent orange outfit, popularized by the film “Borat”, on her horse during a competition near Sydney last weekend, during which riders were however encouraged to wear “original costumes”.
Rose said on social media that he had been sidelined by the Equestrian Australia (EA) which launched disciplinary proceedings against him after receiving complaints.
“I am sincerely sorry if I offended anyone,” the 50-year-old rider said on Facebook. “I hope that the result of the EA examination will allow me to return to competition and will not affect my preparation for the Paris Olympic Games.”
“Like any high-level athlete, Shane is required to respect the codes of conduct” as well as “the athlete’s agreement,” the Australian federation responded in a press release.
“The Australian Equestrian Federation has an obligation to respond to these concerns and is currently examining the matter,” continued the body which, at this stage, has not yet resolved the fate of the rider.
“To be clear, Shane was not suspended or disciplined. As is customary in these circumstances for all high-level athletes, he was excluded from competition for several days, while the examination was completed,” she specifies.
The rider, whose participation in the Paris Games is suspended from this disciplinary procedure, has however received the support of other athletes and many Internet users who have fun relaying montages with the character of Borat in illustration. A petition was even posted online to force the federation to bend.
Rider Vicki Roycroft denounced “an extremely excessive reaction” and dressage specialist Mary Hanna, present at the Olympic Games continuously since Atlanta 1996, implored in the columns of the Sydney Daily Telegraph: “Please, EA, don’t Don’t do that to Shane.”
Rose won silver medals in team eventing at the Beijing and Tokyo Olympics, and a bronze medal at the Rio Games.
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