However, Madden, who is also chair of the FEI jumping committee, made clear the nation can come back into competition when it provides evidence of change.

"It's very sad that we've had to suspend the United Arab Emirates Federation," he told insidethegames here at SPORTELAmerica.

"But they are welcome back in the FEI at any time when they can demonstrate to us and explain to us exactly how they are going to protect horse welfare and following the FEI rules.

"It's not good enough to say yes we are going to do it they need to demonstrate exactly how.

"Having said that they will be perfectly welcome."

The husband of former FEI President Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein (right), Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (left), served a six-month ban in 2009 ©Getty Images


Historically, the UAE has been no stranger to controversy over its endurance practices.

Back in 2009, the husband of then FEI President Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein and Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum served a six-month ban from endurance racing after his horse failed doping tests.

Endurance racing faced another doping and horse welfare crisis in 2013, with the stables owned by Sheikh Mohammed at the centre of much of the controversy, although there was no evidence that he was personally involved in the scandal.

Madden insisted the move is not a result of the change of Presidency at the FEI, with De Vos succeeding Princess Haya, who led the world governing body since 2006, in December last year.

He claimed it is a result of a plan to improve the sport that was introduced during Princess Haya's time in office.

"This is not an effect of the Presidency, this is an effect of the FEI identifying this very big problem under the Presidency of Her Royal Highness Princess Haya," he said.

"We implemented some very aggressive and active measures to find ways to better educate officials, to better use technology in the project [to improve endurance].

"But that takes time and it came to fruition just at the end of her Royal Highness' term.

"As a responsible international federation we had to look at what was wrong with our rules, what was wrong with our governance, what could we do to help endurance to better to police itself and achieve our ultimate goals, which are always horse welfare and fair play.

"So we enacted this and we see most federations have embraced the advice, but frankly we have seen some problems with the UAE."

Madden spoke of his pride in being able to allow UAE athletes from disciplines other than endurance to compete under the FEI flag in international competitions organised outside the country.

He added the FEI is doing its job and now needs to see the United Arab Emirates doing its job to bring it back into the sport.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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