The International Equestrian Federation has suspended the UAE's participation in all international competitions for organizing two international races for endurance and endurance, as two local competitions, in an attempt to circumvent new rules.
Under the suspension, the UAE's participation in all competitions and categories of the International Equestrian Federation will be suspended until the new year, as well as competitions of endurance until March 31, 2021.
The International Federation said that it informed the UAE Federation of the decision on September 24, and that the UAE has 21 days to appeal the decision.
An independent investigation found that two national endurance competitions held in January and February last far exceeded the foreign cavalry quotas allowed in local competitions, and should have been held as international championships.
The FEI said the reason was due to an attempt to circumvent new endurance racing rules.
The Emirates Equestrian Federation would also have to pay a percentage of the regulatory dues that would have gone to the International Federation if the races were organized as international competitions, in addition to legal fees and expenses and other financial penalties.
"It is regrettable that we are dealing with issues of this kind in 2020, and that we have to suspend the participation of a national federation," FEI President Ingmar de Vos said in a statement. National associations apply the rules only in the manner and timing that suit them.
"I hope that this suspension will lead to a change within the federation, as well as to a new era of endurance and endurance racing in equestrian sport in the UAE," he added.
This is the second time in 5 years that the International Federation imposes sanctions on the UAE, and in 2015 its membership was suspended due to mistreatment of horses.