Accused equestrian Callum Buczak provisionally banned from sport

Equestrian Australia has moved to suspend the membership of accused rapist Callum Buczak.

Callum Buczak, 28, was charged with raping another rider in February. Picture: Facebook

Equestrian Australia has moved to suspend the membership of accused­ rapist and prominent eventing rider Callum Buczak after the international equestrian body temporarily barred the athlete­ from competing in light of the allegations.

Buczak, who was charged with raping another rider in February, had been allowed to continue to compete by the sport’s national body because the alleged attack was not at an official event. He strongly denies the charge.

But after the Federation Equestre Internationale moved to provisionally suspend Buczak on Monday, and amid mounting pressure from Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick, Equestrian Australia confirmed the eventing champion’s membership had been temporarily revoked.

The move comes three weeks after Senator Patrick called for the Buczak’s ­suspension while the matter proceeded through Melbourne Magistrates Court. Senator Patrick welcomed the decision , saying it was “proper … in these circumstances, albeit one that has taken far too long”.

“It appears that Equestrian Australia only came to this decis­ion because FEI, the global body by which they are governed, dragged them across the line,” Senator Patrick said.

EA said that, as a national federation member, it was bound by FEI’s rules and “accordingly the member is now provisionally suspended from participating in all FEI and/or EA affiliated events”.

Senator Patrick said he res­pect­ed the presumption of innocence, but thought it “proper” Buczak temporarily step down.

In a post on his Facebook page on September 26, Buczak said he was baffled by the “horrendous” allegation. “Horses are my life,” he wrote. “I have worked my entire­ career to compete with and care for the animals I love, toward­s a dream I have held since a child. I would never do anything to jeopardise that dream.”

Buczak is due to return to court on Thursday.