IOA threatens EFI of suspension in case involving Indian horsemen impersonating as Nepalese riders

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has warned the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) of suspension/withdrawal of its membership after it was apprised of the incident involving Indian horsemen impersonating as Nepalese riders during the Tent Pegging World Cup Qualifiers in Greater Noida in March last year. IOA president Narinder Dhruv Batra has directed the EFI to apprise him of the factual status at the earliest, as such violations by the federation can't be ignored. In its letter dated February 7, 2022, Batra referred to the legal case filed in the Delhi High Court by the president of the Rajasthan Equestrian Association (REA), Raghuvendra Singh Dundlod, in the controversy involving the participation of Indian riders impersonating as Nepalese citizens at the Tent Pegging WC qualifier.

"The allegations are that a false Nepal team with Indian riders of which the Nepal Equestrian Association were unaware of, participated in an event in India. This is a very serious issue and cannot go unattended. We kindly request you to please apprise President IOA with the factual status as such violations by the EFI can lead to its suspension/withdrawal of membership of EFI with IOA.

We would appreciate an urgent reply," Batra wrote. For the uninitiated, four horsemen represented Nepal at the qualifiers namely Yogender, Gulamul Muraslin, Kapil and Vinay Kumar. However, while representing the Nepalese team, the result sheet mentioned their names as Yogandar, Golam, Kepil and Vinay.

There were five teams that took part in the event: India, Pakistan, Belarus, USA and Nepal. India claimed six gold and one bronze to finish first, followed by Pakistan in the second position and Nepal stood third.