CAS upholds suspension of UAE National Federation

THE Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed this week that the United Arab Emirates National Federation will remain suspended from all FEI disciplines until December 31st.

The CAS ruling comes after a two-day hearing via videoconference on November 12th and 13th following an appeal by the UAE against the suspension imposed by the FEI Board on September 24th 2020.

“We welcome today’s CAS decision confirming that a violation of the FEI rules occurred which warranted a full suspension of the UAE National Federation’s membership across all disciplines and significant financial penalties,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “We are grateful to the CAS for expediting the hearing of this appeal so that we are able to provide clarity to our community on the issue prior to the FEI General Assembly next Monday.”

The FEI Board had imposed a suspension on the UAE National Federation following a detailed investigation into the circumstances around two National Endurance Events (CEN) in January and February – the Sheikh Mohammed Cup and The President’s Cup – that should have been held as International Endurance Events (CEIs) as the number of foreign athletes far exceeded the quota permitted for National Events.

The CAS also ruled that 25% of the prize money awarded at the 2020 Sheikh Mohammed Cup and 5% of the prize money awarded at the 2020 President’s Cup must be paid to the FEI, plus organising dues that would have been payable to the FEI had the Events been held as CEIs.