Equestrian Australia ‘not in the saddle’ on Tokyo Olympics selection

Australia’s peak equestrian body had limited oversight in picking the Tokyo Olympics team and specifically warned conflict of interests may arise in the selection process.

Rowan Willis competing in Calgary, Canada, in 2019. Picture: Getty Images

Australia’s peak equestrian body had limited oversight in picking the Tokyo Olympics team and specifically warned that conflicts of interests may arise in the selection process, insiders say.

In a letter sent on May 21, seen by The Australian, Equestrian Australia asked the Australian Institute of Sport to provide confirmation that proper governance practices were being adhered to in the lead-up to selecting the equestrian team for the Tokyo Games.

On Monday, The Australian revealed the nation’s top-ranked show jumper Rowan Willis was over­looked in favour of a rider with sponsorship links to Stephen Lamb, one of two national selectors. Willis was listed behind Edwina Tops-Alexander, ranked 311th, Katie Laurie, ranked 469th, and Jamie Kermond, currently 1013th in the Federation Equestre Internationale rankings, in a decision described as the equivalent of leaving Ash Barty out of the ­national tennis squad.

While Mr Lamb disclosed the perceived conflict of interest and stood aside for the selection of Kermond, a new letter shows Equestrian Australia asked for reassurance that the AIS was demonstrating good governance in its running of the program.

“Whilst the AIS is managing the High Performance program, it is imperative the EA board are in a position to have sufficient oversight from a governance perspective of the decisions taken by the High Performance panel and the resultant activities by the High Performance management team,” the body’s chair, Mark Bradley, wrote in May.

“The EA board requests the AIS provide comfort confirming all duties are being discharged and all the legal, regulatory and good governance practices of EA have been adhered to.”

Sources said the revelation that just two selectors ended up being responsible for choosing the final showjumping team “was less than ideal”, especially after Mr Lamb abstained from Kermond’s selection. The Australian is not suggesting any wrongdoing, only that there is a clear perception of ­conflict of interest in the selection process.

Control over the sport’s elite athletes was transferred to the AIS in June last year after EA entered voluntary administration just six weeks out from when the Tokyo Games were supposed to have started. It is the only sport in ­Australia whose high-performance program is being administered by the AIS. The body, now under new governance, is not expected to regain oversight of the program until after the Paris Olympics in 2024. However, sources say efforts are under way to have the high-performance program returned as soon as possible.

Equestrian Australia’s letter specifically asked that any issues that may arise be “managed in accordance with the EA’s conflict of interest policies”. The AIS has yet to respond to the request. An AIS spokeswoman said it had received a letter from the peak body but said Olympic nominations were a “matter for Equestrian Australia”.

“The High Performance Panel, alongside the AIS, do and will continue to ensure that the EA HP Program is run with good governance, with the EA CEO and Performance Director ensuring ad­herence to EA Policies,” she said.

Mr Bradley used the May letter to reiterate the board’s “enduring commitment to good governance (and) financial stability”.