The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) is investigating allegations that a number of its horse endurance races in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may not have actually taken place. “The FEI has forwarded allegations regarding a fake event and the duplication of results at FEI Endurance events in the UAE to the Equestrian Community Integrity Unit [ECIU] for full investigation”, an FEI spokesperson told the Sports Integrity Initiative. “The ECIU, which has been in existence since 2010, is operated by Quest, a company owned and run by former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens. The ECIU do not have a specific deadline to complete their investigation.”

The FEI ordered the investigation after the UK’s Daily Telegraph provided it with evidence that two horse endurance races in the UAE – listed on the FEI website as being staged on 23 December and 21 January – never actually took place. The newspaper said that the detailed results data from the two races were identical to data from previous races, suggesting it had been copied. The Telegraph also alleges that a further ten races staged in the UAE appear to be bogus.

On 26 February, the FEI decided to remove two remaining horse endurance events from the FEI official calendar, following concerns over horse welfare. Most endurance rides are set over distances of 50 or 100 miles, which winning horses complete in 14 to 15 hours.