Swedish European medal-winning showjumper Douglas Lindelöw has denied allegations of mistreating horses, as he has been suspended from nationwide staff actions and worldwide competitors – and reported to the police.

On Monday (11 March) Swiss publication Aftonbladet reported that an elite showjumper “abuses and punishes horses after poor outcomes”, and that 5 grooms had come ahead with allegations of mistreatment.

On the time the rider had not been publicly named, and on Tuesday in an announcement a spokesman for the Swedish equestrian federation acknowledged that “a rider belonging to one of many leaping squads will take a break from all nationwide team-related actions” – and that the federation have been taking the data “extraordinarily significantly”. The spokesman, who added that the rider “doesn’t belong to the championship squad”, stated the choice was “not presently a disciplinary measure, however a pause throughout additional evaluation”.

In an extra assertion on Wednesday the spokesman stated the federation had been in touch with “a number of individuals who testify to an motion that might point out against the law” – and that the rider in query had been reported to the police.

“Within the final 24 hours, we’ve got been in touch with quite a lot of individuals who have expertise with the rider. What they inform us implies that we can’t rule out crime within the dealing with of horses and which means we select to report it to the police. If against the law is suspected, it’s all the time vital to let the police examine,” stated Johan Fyrberg, the Swedish equestrian federation’s secretary basic.

Mr Fyrberg added that as of Wednesday (13 March) the federation won’t sanction worldwide competitors for the rider “in the meanwhile”.

“Our sport should be characterised by pleasure and love for the horses. Due to this fact, there are various of us in equestrian Sweden who in the present day are extraordinarily unhappy, indignant and annoyed by the tales and footage we’ve got been uncovered to. There may be nothing that belongs in equestrian sports activities,” he stated.

Right this moment (Friday 15 March) Douglas Lindelöw issued an announcement denying the allegations.

“I want to tackle the intense allegations which were made towards me and the operations I oversee, as reported within the media. I totally recognise the gravity of the state of affairs however firmly refute the accusations of horse mismanagement. Whereas I’m actually not infallible, I preserve that our care and coaching of horses are carried out with utmost respect and in compliance with established norms and rules,” he stated.

“In mild of the current allegations, we’re in fact ready to completely cooperate with any potential investigations or inquiries – which we welcome. We’re open to implementing additional measures to make sure and improve the welfare of our animals if vital. This has been confirmed by inspections by authorities through the years. Simply this week, I initiated an unbiased veterinary examination of all of the horses. The end result: No remarks.”

Douglas added that he “urges the Swedish equestrian federation to provoke a broader evaluation of the business in Sweden as issues are sometimes raised about horses being pushed too laborious and improper strategies getting used”.

“It’s in everybody’s curiosity to totally examine these issues,” he stated.

Douglas made his senior staff debut on the 2015 European Championships, having received medals at youth stage. He was on the staff that took silver on the 2017 Europeans on Zacramento. He has ridden at three World Cup finals. In 2021 he was a part of the Swedish staff that positioned fourth on the Europeans.

Right this moment the spokesman for the Swedish Equestrian Federation instructed H&H that “the truth that the rider says he needs to take part in any investigation is nice and we welcome that”.

“For us nonetheless, it doesn’t change something. The continuing course of continues in response to plan.”

An FEI spokesman stated the allegations are “very disturbing” and that the alleged behaviour has “no place in equestrian sport”.

“The FEI is in shut contact with the Swedish nationwide federation and the federation has undertaken to the FEI that it’s going to not enter the athlete in FEI competitions whereas the matter is beneath investigation,” he stated.

“Additional to that enterprise, the FEI has not deemed it essential to situation a provisional suspension at this stage however we’re monitoring the state of affairs intently.”

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H&H senior information author

Since becoming a member of H&H in 2018, Becky has coated a broad vary of equestrian information together with welfare issues, veterinary research, FEI Tribunal hearings and highway security campaigns. She has additionally interviewed high riders together with Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to call only a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, in addition to the Royal Highland and Blair Citadel Worldwide Horse Trials nearer to residence. She was additionally a key a part of the distant reporting staff for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.