New Delhi: Yet another tale of administrative chaos and athletes paying the price. Caught in a prolonged governance crisis at the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI), Indian riders now face a ban from international competitions, with their sporting futures hanging in the balance. The latest setback comes at a time when the govt is pushing to bring more international events to India and widen Indian athletes’ exposure to global competition.The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has decided to suspend the EFI from Dec 1 over prolonged governance irregularities and failure to hold fresh elections, effectively shutting Indian riders, officials, trainers and horses out of international events. TOI is in possession of FEI’s Oct 15 letter confirming the decision, which was taken at the international body’s board meeting on Oct 13.Explaining its move, the FEI said the EFI’s prolonged governance crisis had reached a tipping point. “The absence of elections to date to elect a new Executive Committee, has resulted in a prolonged governance and leadership irregularity that is no longer sustainable,” the letter by FEI Governance Director Francisco Lima stated.The crisis follows the Delhi high court’s dissolution of the EFI executive committee in Feb 2026. Its elected tenure had expired in Sept 2023, while fresh elections remain pending nine months after the court’s intervention. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) constituted an ad hoc committee on March 27 to oversee the federation and facilitate the electoral process.While acknowledging the committee’s Sept 27 submission and its work, the FEI said elections were expected by Jan 31, 2027. However, the suspension will be reviewed only after the polls are held and evaluated by the international body.The consequences are sweeping. Citing its statutes, the FEI said the EFI “may not attend or be represented at any session or meeting of any FEI body, nor may it organise international events.” More damagingly, athletes, officials, trainers and horses “may not participate in international events organised by the FEI or any other national federation, whether under the Indian flag or the FEI flag.”With the suspension taking effect before the stated election deadline, Indian riders risk losing crucial international competition opportunities. Their return will depend on the completion of elections and the FEI’s subsequent evaluation, leaving athletes caught in a governance crisis they did not create.
