Equestrian star threatened with suspension from Olympics for riding in swimsuit

Shane Rose, lors des Jeux Olympiques de Tokyo. MAXPPP – Friso Gentsch

Le triple médaillé olympique australien Shane Rose, qui prépare ses quatrièmes Jeux olympiques, a été écarté dimanche de la compétition pour avoir porté un maillot de bain "mankini".

Australian three-time Olympic medalist Shane Rose, who is preparing for his fourth Olympic Games, was kicked out of the competition on Sunday for wearing a 'mankini' swimsuit. during a show jumping event, the Federation reproaching him for an outfit that violated the dress code for riders.

Rose, one of the stars of the Australian equestrian world, wore a fluorescent orange outfit on her horse, popularized by the film “Borat”, during a competition organized near Sydney last weekend, during which riders were nevertheless encouraged to wear "original costumes".

Rose said on social media that he had been sidelined by the Australian Equestrian Australia (EA) which launched a disciplinary procedure against him after receiving complaints.

Medalist in Beijing, Rio and Tokyo

"I am sincerely sorry if I offended anyone", said the rider of 50 years on Facebook. "I hope that the result of the EA exam will allow me to return to competition and n&# 39;will not affect my preparation for the Paris Olympic Games". "Like any high-level athlete, Shane is required to respect the codes of conduct" as well as "the'agreement of the athlete", for its part reacted the Australian federation, in a press release.

"The Australian Equestrian Federation has an obligation to address these concerns and is currently reviewing the matter"< /em>, continued the suit which, at this stage, has not yet resolved the rider's fate. "To be clear, Shane was not suspended or sanctioned. As is customary in these circumstances for all high-level athletes, he was sidelined from competition for several days while the examination was completed", she specifies.