Equestrian Australia clears Shane Rose of wrongdoing after mankini stunt
Equestrian champion Shane Rose has taken aim at the “cowardly” anonymous complainant who dobbed him into the sport’s governing body after they today cleared him of any wrongdoing.
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Equestrian champion Shane Rose has taken aim at the “cowardly” anonymous complainant who dobbed him into the sport’s governing body after they today cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Equestrian Australia on Monday ruled Mr Rose had “done nothing wrong” following an incident where he wore a mankini at a country showjumping event.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Mr Rose expressed his relief at EA’s decision, adding he never felt like he “had done too drastically wrong”.
“I probably didn’t feel as though there needed to be an inquiry into what had gone on,” he said.
“I understand the process that EA went through and had to go through once it sort of got to the stage it got to. It’s disappointing that it got to the stage.
“The cowardly person who didn’t put a name to the complaint, that’s the thing I find most disappointing and that process can happen.
“I was confident, but you never know.”
Mr Rose also shared how touched he was by the overwhelming support he received by the public and was thankful for it.
“All of those people far and wide who jumped on the bandwagon and supported me, it’s given me a lot of moral strength and support through the whole ordeal,” he said.
Mr Rose will now be focusing on his efforts at an event in New Zealand in order to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
“I want to do a good job there, tick off all of the boxes of satisfying the qualification and hopefully do enough to warrant my selection,” he said.
Mr Rose’s remarks come after a statement from EA on Monday said: “Equestrian Australia has today concluded its review following public concerns being raised regarding three-time Olympian Shane Rose.”
“The Equestrian Australia Review Panel met on Monday and found that Mr Rose did not breach the code of conduct at Wallaby Hill on 11 February.”
Following the news, Mr Rose earlier told The Daily Telegraph: “I feel great. I feel like I didn’t do a whole lot wrong and to have that weight taken off of my shoulders.”
The fall out within EA has already begun, with one of its board members resigning in disgust over how the organisation treated the three-time Olympian.
Rose has been met with overwhelming public support in the 24 hours since revealing his Paris Olympic dream could have been over after he chose to wear a Borat-style mankini during a fancy dress showjumping event.
Now, Equestrian Australia board member and integrity committee chairman Tim Palmer has resigned from the organisation, effective immediately.
In a public video posted to his wife’s Facebook page, Mr Palmer said he fully supported Rose and described the incident as “trivial”.
He also revealed as a board member he was not informed of Equestrian Australia’s decision to stand Rose down from competition, pending in investigation, on Sunday.
More to come.
A Daily Telegraph poll asking if the rider should be stood down over the incident has received more than 1300 votes, with 90 per cent voting no.
Meanwhile, among Rose’s biggest supporters is the main sponsor of the event, Kubota Bowral, who promised to give mankinis to ever spectator at next year’s event in support of Rose’s antics.
“As a major sponsor of the Wallaby Hill Extravaganza we would like to show our support for your amazing event and Shane Rose for his commitment to the Wallaby Hill Extravaganza,” the company wrote in a post on it’s Facebook page on Monday afternoon.
“Next year at the Wallaby Hill Extravaganza, to embrace Shane’s sense of humour, we will be donating a mankini to all spectators and to support men’s health, we will be donating $100 for each spectators who has a sense of humour and tries to outdo Shane.
“I hope all spectators get behind this amazing event and represent the #ROSEPOSE ‘MANKINI’ at next year’s extravaganza.”
The furore, which has attracted international media attention, began last Sunday when Rose paired the revealing orange outfit with nothing else but a helmet and boots during a fancy dress showjumping event at the Wallaby Hill Extravaganza, in the state’s southern highlands.
In a social media post on his Facebook page yesterday, Rose said Equestrian Australia (EA) received a complaint from someone in attendance at the event, who was “offended” by his attire.
He said he had been stood down from competition while Equestrian Australia carried out a review of the incident and hoped the outcome would not affect his campaign towards the Paris Olympics.
Following The Daily Telegraph’s report, Rose spoke to 2GB host Ben Fordham, saying he did not intend to cause offence.
“I didn’t mean to offend anyone, if I did I apologise for it. But it was just a fun day I thought,” he said on Monday.
“I was pretty thoughtful, I had to put a cap downstairs and I got some electrical tape up to make sure there was no mishap. I was trying to be as respectful as I could in a fun sort of environment, I thought.”
The Bimbadeen Park rider made light of the situation and assured listeners that he won’t be rushing to put the “uncomfortable” costume on again.
Rose received widespread support online on his initial post, including from fellow Olympic horse riders Wayne Roycroft and Mary Hanna, who expressed dismay at Equestrian Australia’s response to the incident.
“Shane, I apologise for the action take by EA, you have contributed to the equestrian community more than anyone I know,” Mr Roycroft wrote.
“Not to have the support of the EA is shameful from my point of view.”
Three-time Olympian Vicki Roycroft told the Telegraph the stand-down was “a massive over-reaction” from officials at Equestrian Australia, saying the sport needed “a bit of humour” injected into it.
Rose has since apologised for the incident but has repeatedly said he believes he did not do anything wrong and never intended to offend anyone.
Rose currently has three horses qualified for the Olympics, including his Tokyo mount, Virgil, and said he hopes Equestrian Australia clears him to compete in Paris.
“I hope that the result of the EA review allows me to return to competition and not affect my campaign towards the Paris Olympic Games,” he said.
“I’m very focused on my training towards Paris and confident the team is shaping up as a competitive chance.”
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