Why is Lubov Kochetova being allowed to ride in the FEI classes at WEF? Athletes from Russia and Belarus are banned by the FEI.
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New FEI rule goes into effect on March 6th, so as not to disrupt any ongoing events.
Now, will she be allowed to show in non-FEI classes at WEF for the rest of the circuit?
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Thanks for the clarification. I thought that USEF honors bans made by FEI. But you might know more about that???
Her country is now listed as US and her Instagram no longer says Russian athlete. She must have dual citizenship.
She is not a rider recognized by FEI under any country. Without permission from some federation, she cannot compete in FEI classes. What her instagram account says doesn’t matter.
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Check her entries on: https://pbiec.coth.com/people/Detail/pid/21280
Her country is listed United States. FEI may not have updated their info.
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I was just correcting that she is registered with FEI. She’s an Olympian. But yes, she is likely a dual citizen and did the smart thing by switching the country she represents so that she can continue to compete.
Guess if I had spelled her name correctly, I might know that. Sorry all.
If you look at the results from that class, she is the only rider without a flag next to their name.
Why? Who says she supports what Putin is doing? She has lived in this country for a long time.
ETA: There are many other riders and or trainers that SHOULD be embarrassed to show their faces for some of the incidents that have come out.
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A rider cannot arbitrarily change the country for whom they ride. There is a process requiring both FEI and (in this case) USEF approval.
What her feelings are about Putin is not the point. If she meets the criteria of the sanction, she must stop showing in FEI classes.
The behavior of other riders and/or trainers is not relative to this discussion.
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As mentioned above, she can compete until March 6th. We will see after that if she is eligible to compete under FEI rules.
I have a friend who changed her nationality with the FEI. It’s not a very hard process. She had to write why she wanted to change nationality and they decided if it was a valid reason. My friend changed because she had never actually lived in the country of her original nationality and identified much more with her other nationality (only received when she turned 18).
I’m guessing that in this case she decided it was a good idea to make the change before the ruling and had already started the paperwork.
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You also have to be a citizen of the new country. You can’t just pick a new country and say you identify with that country and want to ride for it.
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Should have mentioned my friend had just got local nationality when she changed it with the FEI
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USEF Board of Directors Bans Participation of Russian & Belarusian Athletes, Horses, and Officials in National Competition
From the US Equestrian Communications Department
Lexington, Ky. – The USEF Board approved a resolution today condemning Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, the attack on its innocent people and Belarus’ support of such actions. The USEF joins in solidarity with the IOC, IPC, Fédération Équestre Internationale, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Advisory Council, and the global Olympic and Paralympic community in banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from sport participation.
The USEF Board, effective immediately and until further notice, prohibits all Russian and Belarusian Athletes, Horses, and Officials from participation in USEF national events. This prohibition applies to any Athlete, Horse, Owner, or Official who is a citizen of Russia or Belarus, or has declared Russia or Belarus as their Sport Nationality.
USEF President Tom O’Mara stated, “It is devastating to see the destruction in the Ukraine. We must stand strong in our support of the country and people who are suffering.”
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I thought this ban went into effect at midnight?
The rider in question placed in the 4* Grand Prix on a date that was, by all geographies in the world, on or after March 6. There’s no flag next to her name, so they seem to have followed the ban on displaying Russian flags.
“ The prohibition comes into effect as of midnight CET on Sunday, 6 March 2022 so that FEI Events already in progress, or about to start, are not unduly disrupted.”
I guess that could be read as it started at midnight Sunday which was 6pm EST on Sunday.
The ban also prohibits Russian citizens even if they’re riding for another country if they also hold Russian citizenship. The USEF rule appears to be the same.
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I would think it probably meant the ban started on Sunday night, since most horse shows end on Sunday. Technically maybe it should have said midnight on Monday the seventh.
This is such an odd rule. Is the war the fault of individual Russian citizens?
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