Equestrian Canada (EC) provided a statement yesterday regarding its provisional suspension of dressage athletes Evi Strasser and Tanya Strasser Shostak. The statement comes from Melanie McLearon, EC’s Director of Marketing & Communications.
“All allegations of misconduct are received through EC's third-party complaints process. If EC receives a report from our Independent Third Party (ITP) Complaints Manager regarding a complaint they have received that is serious in nature, the respondents are provisionally suspended. To protect the integrity of the investigation, EC is not provided further details until the investigation is complete and a decision is rendered. We confirm that pursuant to section 17 of EC's Discipline, Complaints & Appeals Policy, EC has provisionally suspended respondents Evi Strasser and Tanya Strasser-Shostak effective February 17, 2024 from all EC-related business, activities, and events pending the completion of an Investigation. According to section 19, the respondents have the right to request the provisional measures be modified or lifted. Sanctions are provided on our public website. All EC sport license holders that are suspended for misconduct appear on the 'other not in good standing' list found here: https://www.equestrian.ca/about/safe-sport/disciplinary-sanctions EC asks our community and the public to support the third-party investigative process and allow it to do its job in coming to a fair and expeditious resolution for all parties involved. Anyone that has witnessed or has reasonable grounds to believe that a human or horse is suffering or has suffered abuse in our sport, is obligated to report it and we encourage them to report their concerns here: https://www.equestrian.ca/about/safe-sport/submit-a-complaintSubmit” McLearon also addressed questions about why EC can take action now when welfare allegations are made, but could not in 2021 when a report of this alleged misconduct was apparently made. Though not permitted to speak about an open case, she noted that EC’s new Horse Welfare Code of Conduct has only been in place since 2022. “The Horse Welfare Code of Conduct that was implemented in 2022 was not previously part of the Discipline, Complaints and Appeals Process, which it became once the new code was approved. It is my understanding that horse welfare concerns prior to that time were referred to the SPCA as EC did not have a mechanism for active equines with a relationship to EC or a sport licence holder.” Please see the code here. It’s important to note at this stage these are allegations only. The suspensions are provisional pending investigation, which means the claims of mistreatment have not yet been fully investigated, nor has any wrongdoing on the Strassers’ part been established.
2 Comments
Sharon Jordan
2/19/2024 07:52:34 am
How is it justifiable to suspend an athlete for an accusation that has not been substantiated? If the investigation proves there is a violation then suspend but do not treat the athlete as guilty before a decision is rendered. This is a “guilty until proven innocent” system and is contrary to our justice system.
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Jen Pinkerton
2/19/2024 05:05:35 pm
Is the PR spokes person suggesting that they are retroactively implementing new horse welfare regulations? As a defence with respect to a delayed historical investigation? There was, in fact, a horse welfare policy in place when the initial complaint was made. Even if they are proceeding with an investigation after so many years, I believe the respondents would be subject only to those regulations in place at the time of the alleged offence.
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