Posted on 08/19/2004 8:29:16 AM PDT by nypokerface
ATHENS (Reuters) - France, Britain and the United States have issued a joint challenge to Germany's gold medal in the equestrian team three-day eventing.
The three, dropped a peg by Germany's gold, said they were united in an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the highest appeals body, on Friday or within days.
"In the interest of our athletes, fair play and the integrity of sport, it is our prerogative to explore every avenue," British team press officer Philip Pope said.
France had initially won the team silver but took the gold after top German rider Bettina Hoy was penalised -- more than an hour after her ride -- for a starting line infringement in the last show jumping stage of the three-discipline event.
Germany challenged the decision and an appeal committee then ruled organisers, not Hoy, made the error, restoring the gold to Germany.
That pushed France back to silver, followed by Britain with bronze and the United States in fourth. The ruling also made it possible for Hoy to take the individual gold moments later ahead of Briton Leslie Law and American Kimberly Severson.
If CAS backs the three-country appeal, France would win the team gold and Britain's Law stands to win the individual gold, Severson silver and Britain's Pippa Funnell bronze.
A statement by the appealing countries said: "All three teams have informed the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) of their decision to proceed ... we hope to lodge (our case) over the coming days."
German officials said they were confident the decision of the appeals committee would not be overturned and they would keep the gold.
"I don't think that the CAS will get involved in a matter based on a factual decision," said Jens Adolphsen, a German equestrian official who had formulated their appeal.
French, British and U.S. officials rejected any suggestion of poor sportsmanship.
"We feel we are protecting the rights of our athletes," said Maria Tartlow, press officer of the U.S. equestrian federation. "I think it's unfortunate that this happened. It casts a pall over the outcome. But you have to do what you think is right."
I beg your pardon -
may I have some Grey Poupon... ?
Am not sure why there is a problem here. If you cross the line before the bell rings to start your round you are eliminated. This is nothing new, and these competitors have been riding under this rule forever, as it is the same down to the very beginning levels.
I watched some of the jumping yesterday. They alluded to this controversy. If "organizers" really did screw up, I don't know how they can hold the rider responsible?
France, Britain and Germany. Don't these guys ever stop?
Said the Spokesman: We'll take it to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, we'll take it the International Criminal Court, we'll take it to the United States Supreme Court, we're gonna take it to the Hague, and we're not going to stop there, we'll take it to all the Small Claims Courts in New Jersey, until we get justice - YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!
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