A jumping judge and the secretary-general of the Kyrgyzstan equestrian federation have each been suspended for two years by the FEI for covering-up the former’s absence from a qualifier for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

Elena Wilson, an official from Kazakhstan, was appointed foreign judge at the Bishkek show in the neighbouring Central Asian state of Kyrgyzstan last November. But problems obtaining a visa caused Wilson to drop out two weeks beforehand.

Instead of informing the FEI and asking them to help find a replacement, Wilson and Ilvira Jogina – who as well as running the Kyrgyzstan federation was ground jury president in Bishkek – colluded to cover-up Wilson’s absence. Jogina provided Wilson with a report of the show, course plans, pictures and results and Wilson sent them on to the FEI, with her electronic signature.

Advertisement