Animal Cruelty: Criminal Charges Against IOC and FEI

Suffering and pain inflicted on horses.

Due to animal cruelty during the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics, the animal protection organization "IG Wild beim Wild" has filed criminal charges with the Lausanne Public Prosecutor's Office against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). In four cases, the organizers failed to prevent obvious animal cruelty.

The IOC and FEI are accused of violations of animal protection legislation and breaches of several articles of the Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Ordinance. The IOC accepts with its flawed regulations that horses suffer at competitions organized by the IOC. As organizers of the competitions, the IOC and its officials would be obligated to ensure that the animals used are neither mistreated nor subjected to suffering in any other form.

According to animal protection laws, methods that cause hyperextension of the equine neck or back are prohibited. Various horses clearly show that they were ridden in this cruel posture both in training and during actual competition.

Euthanized

The gelding Jet Set of Swiss eventing rider Robin Godel had to be euthanized at the veterinary clinic in Tokyo after sustaining a severe and inoperable ligament injury during an extremely difficult cross-country test in eventing that obviously overexerted him.

During the ride by Irishman Cian O'Connor, the nine-year-old Kilkenny began bleeding heavily from both nostrils. The blood flowed so strongly that the horse could barely breathe and eventually had its entire chest covered in blood and was obviously exhausted at the end of the ride. No competition official reacted to the horse's distressing situation. The accused did not stop the cruelty even when it became conspicuous. They thereby accepted the horse's suffering and increased it by not calling off the competition.

Blows and Kicks

Rider Annika Schleu tormented the horse Saint Boy with blows from her whip and kicks with her spurs to force it into the course. Saint Boy had already shown massive stress symptoms under the previous rider. Nevertheless, all action to protect the animal was absent. What occurred at Tokyo's Baji Koen Equestrian Park was far removed from normal show jumping and should instead be termed pure animal cruelty.

Animal cruelty: Criminal charges against IOC and FEI — Saint Boy / Annika Schleu

Systematic Overexertion

The IOC and FEI have been violating animal welfare legislation for years in organising such competitions by demanding performances from the animals at these events that they are not up to. Furthermore, treatment by riders that inflicts suffering and pain on horses is tolerated. In addition, it is well known – and could be seen, for example, with the gelding Kilkenny – that the training methods applied to be able to participate in such competitions are relevant to animal welfare. The systematic excessive demands and harassment of horses is an integral part of such competitions, as well as the preparation for them. In recent years, fatal falls, aortic ruptures and deaths have repeatedly occurred at Olympic Games.

With the complete absence of protective measures to prevent animal suffering, despite knowledge of the existing grievances, the accused have accepted that animals would come to harm.

IG Wild beim Wild requests the contacted public prosecutor's office to initiate the necessary investigative actions for the comprehensive establishment of the facts and to open corresponding criminal proceedings. There is urgent suspicion that the IOC and FEI have committed criminally relevant acts.

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English:

Animal cruelty: Criminal complaint against IOC and FEI

Inflicting suffering and pain on horses

The animal protection organisation "IG Wild beim Wild" has filed a criminal complaint against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) with the Lausanne prosecutors‘ office for animal cruelty during the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. In four cases, the organisers failed to prevent obvious cruelty to animals.

The IOC and the FEI are being accused of violations of animal welfare legislation and breaches of several articles of the Animal Welfare Act and the Animal Welfare Ordinance. The IOC, with its flawed rules and regulations, accepts the suffering of horses at IOC-organised competitions. As the organiser of the competitions, the IOC and its officials would be obligated to ensure that the animals used are neither mistreated nor harmed in any other way.

According to animal welfare legislation, methods that cause overstretching of the equine neck or back are prohibited. Various horses clearly show that they were ridden in this cruel manner during training as well as at the actual competition.

Put to sleep

Swiss eventer Robin Godel’s gelding Jet Set had to be put to sleep at the veterinary hospital in Tokyo after it suffered a severe and inoperable ligament injury during an extremely difficult cross-country eventing competition that was clearly too much for it.

During the ride of Irishman Cian O’Conner, nine-year-old Kilkenny began to bleed profusely from both nostrils. The blood ran so strongly that the horse could hardly breathe and eventually the whole chest was full of blood and the horse was obviously exhausted at the end of the ride. No tournament official reacted to the horse’s distressing situation. The accused persons failed to stop the torture even when it became obvious. They thereby accepted the horse’s suffering and increased it by not ringing it off.

Blows and kicks

The rider Annika Schleu maltreated the horse Saint Boy with blows using her whip and kicks using her spurs in order to bring it into the course. Yet Saint Boy had already shown massive symptoms of stress under the previous rider. However, no action was taken to protect the animal. What happened at Tokyo’s Baji Koen Equestrian Park was far from normal show jumping and should instead be described as pure animal cruelty.

Systematic excessive demands

The IOC and FEI have been violating animal welfare legislation for years in organising such competitions by demanding performances from the animals at these events that they are not up to. Furthermore, treatment by riders who inflict suffering and pain on their horses is tolerated. What is more, it is well known – and could be seen, for example, with the gelding Kilkenny – that the training methods applied to be able to participate in such competitions are a problem for animal welfare. The systematic excessive demands and rushing of horses is an integral part of such competitions, as well as the preparation for them. In recent years, fatal falls, aortic ruptures and deaths have repeatedly occurred at Olympic Games.

With the complete absence of protective measures to prevent animal suffering, the accused persons accepted that animals would be hurt, despite knowledge of the existing grievances.

IG Wild beim Wild requests the prosecutors‘ office to launch the necessary investigations to fully establish the facts of the case and to instigate appropriate criminal proceedings. There is a strong suspicion that the IOC and FEI have committed criminal offences.

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