FEI to suspend Equestrian Federation of India from December 1; riders and horses barred from international events
The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has decided to suspend the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) with the suspension taking effect on 1 December 2026, the FEI said in a letter dated October 15 after a board online meeting on October 13. The move will bar Indian riders, officials, trainers and horses from participating in international events while the suspension is in force.
The FEI's October 15 letter was addressed to members of EFI's ad hoc committee, Lt Col (retd) Sandeep Dewan and advocate Vidushpat Singhania, and followed an explanation submitted by the committee on September 27. The international body cited the Delhi High Court's February 2026 dissolution of EFI's executive committee — whose elected tenure expired in September 2023 — and the absence of fresh elections as the reason for action. The FEI noted the ad hoc committee had been established by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on March 27 and that elections to the EFI executive committee were expected to take place by January 31, 2027. "The suspension will be reviewed once elections for the Executive Committee have been held and have been evaluated by the FEI," the letter said.
"Further to the FEI Board online meeting of 13 October 2026, please kindly note that the FEI Board decided to suspend the Equestrian Federation of India, with the suspension taking effect on 1 December 2026," the letter, a copy of which is in the possession of PTI, stated.
The FEI set out the scope of restrictions under its statutes in the same letter. "In accordance with Article 8.4 of the FEI Statutes, during the period of suspension, the Equestrian Federation of India may not attend or be represented at any session or meeting of any FEI body, nor may it organise international events," the letter stated. It added: "In addition, its members (including athletes, officials and trainers) and horses may not participate in international events organised by the FEI or any other National Federation, whether under the Indian flag or the FEI flag."
The letter highlighted specific consequences for Indian endurance participants linked to registrations with other national federations. It said Indian endurance trainer Hari Singh Aam is registered with EFI and that horses he trains but which are registered with other national federations will require a change of trainer to remain eligible to compete from December 1. Citing Article 828.3 of the FEI Endurance Rules, the FEI said a horse whose registered trainer changes cannot participate in a competition for 14 days from the date the change is notified; any such change therefore must be notified by November 17 for the horses to remain eligible from December 1.
The governance dispute stems from the continuation of EFI's executive committee beyond the expiry of its elected tenure in September 2023 and subsequent legal proceedings over the federation's administration and electoral process. The Delhi High Court dissolved the executive committee in February 2026 and directed the IOA to constitute an ad hoc committee to administer the federation and facilitate fresh elections; the IOA formed that ad hoc committee on March 27. The FEI said it had sought an explanation in September before considering suspension and that, after carefully considering the committee's written submission, it concluded the absence of an elected executive committee could not continue indefinitely.
The suspension will take effect before the election deadline communicated to the FEI, leaving India's return to international competition dependent on the completion of the polls and the international body's subsequent evaluation.