The Equestrian Federation of Ireland are to seek legal advice on suspending the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) from membership of the federation.
The move follows the association's failure to respond to recent press reports of continuing "irregularities" within the SJAI management structure.
The federation had shocked the equestrian world just before Christmas with its statement that it would not be recommending that the Irish Sports Council provide funding for show jumping in 2000, but the request for a "considered response" from the SJAI fell on deaf ears.
The federation had called for some reaction from the SJAI to allegations of "serious and continuing irregularities" contained in a five-page report issued by the SJAI's now defunct finance committee.
Yesterday, after a meeting of the federation executive, it was proposed that moves be initiated to suspend the SJAI.
In a one-page press release issued last night, the federation stated its awareness of the "hardships such a suspension would inflict upon individual members of the SJAI . . . but as the governing body of equestrian sport in Ireland, it feels that it is left with no alternative".
The federation's 21 directors are to meet before the end of the month to discuss the latest move, by which time the SJAI's own executive will be in place. The 15 Connacht, Leinster and northern regions representatives have already been named, with the remaining five to be nominated after the Munster meeting next Monday.
Hardest hit by such a suspension would be the international riders and organisers of international fixtures within Ireland. Entries for all international shows have to go through the national federation.
"The federation is using bully boy tactics," said former European champion Peter Charles last night. "It should leave the SJAI alone and give them a chance to sort things out. The international riders shouldn't be made scapegoats for the federation to make a statement. The SJAI has had a hiccup, but it doesn't mean that everyone should jump ship."
In a further blow to show jumping, Irish Sports Council chief executive John Treacy last night confirmed that as a result of the latest controversy there would definitely be no funding for the sport this year, even though extra funds had been earmarked for equestrian sports in the build-up to the Sydney Olympics this summer.
The Sports Council had withheld funding from the SJAI in 1998 following revelations of an apparent £200,000 deficit in the 1997 accounts. But funding of £61,000 was released by the federation two months ago after the SJAI's announcement of an £86,000 profit for the year ended October 1999.
But allegations of continuing irregularities contained in the finance committee's December report has prompted the latest withdrawal of funding.
"I have read the report," Treacy said yesterday, "and it's extremely damning. I would be very concerned about what is contained in it.
"The mechanisms whereby the federation restored funding to the SJAI were that a financial and management committee would oversee financial practices within the association and that a business manager would be brought in. These haven't been followed through and the Sports Council is very concerned about these developments.
"Until good practices are put in place, the Sports Council certainly won't be giving the federation any money for show jumping."
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