The covid-19 policy that applies during the Equestrian World Cup in Denmark is above all a recommendation, says Mark Hart.
As there are no restrictions in the country, the Brit is not washed, who is also not considered to have broken the competition rules.
- We are not above government decisions.
Our policy is primarily medical advice and guidelines, he says.
But the federation was still not completely satisfied with finding out that the rider had been infected only after the competition and the medal ceremony where the Brit participated without a mouth guard.
- We were a little surprised and disappointed, from a personal perspective.
We are disappointed that he put himself in a situation where he could infect others, says Mark Hart.
He has been in contact with the British Federation, which says it has a medical policy but which was not followed during the medal ceremony.
And the reason Hughes can continue to compete is that he is partly symptom-free, says Hart.
- According to the association, he is in microisolation.
When he is on the horse, he has no contact with anyone else.
And he shouldn't have it outside his team either, he continues.
According to the FEI's covid protocol, a person who has been infected must leave the competition venue immediately.
So that will not be the case.
But Hart believes the advice and guidelines make most riders and federations take personal responsibility and believes the policy, even though Hughes faces no consequences, is not without merit.
- We hope that no one has been infected, says Hart.