Obstacle racing seems to be voted as an alternative to horse rider elements in modern pentathlon at Olympic Games from 2028, but a group of athletes opposed to the move are calling for an investigation into the governing of the sport.
The sport’s global governing body, UIPM, said in November it would remove equestrianism from the Los Angeles Olympics, with a suitable replacement determined by a consultation process.
That decision came after Germany’s modern pentathlon coach Kim Raisner hit a horse at the Tokyo Olympics last year when it refused to jump the fence, an incident that led to widespread criticism. for this sport.
Pentathlon United representatives including British Olympic champion Joe Choong wrote to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Sunday asking him to intervene and investigate UIPM’s lack of transparency.
“The UIPM consultation process is at best illusory and it appears to be designed only to legitimize a predetermined outcome (which we were advised to race against in partnership with the U.S. Army). of World OCR),” the group stated in their letter.
“The IOC has been clear in its expectation that athletes should play a central role in the review and consultation process for the fifth sport. This did not happen,” they wrote.
UIPM, which is scheduled to hold an executive board meeting late Monday, did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
The modern pentathlon has been an Olympic sport since 1912 and features five events: fencing, swimming, horse jumping, pistol shooting and cross country running.
“We request that the IOC conduct a comprehensive, independent investigation into UIPM’s authenticity and governance standards and the fifth disciplinary consultation process.”
Pentathlon United also said a survey of 310 past and present athletes found that 95% of them were not satisfied with UIPM’s decision, while more than 77% said they were unlikely to stay. this sport if the equestrian element is removed.
“Athletes have been left out of the dialogue and their clear preference for preserving and reforming the equestrian element has been ignored,” the letter added.
