Forced to remove horse racing from its program, the modern pentathlon will test an obstacle course that could serve as a replacement for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
The International Union of Modern Pentathlon (UIPM) said on Monday that it has received approximately 60 proposals and will test two types of obstacle courses after the World Cup finals in June.
The change is not popular with athletes practicing one of the most traditional sports in the Olympic program, which consists of fencing, swimming, horse jumping, pistol shooting and cross country. This format will be preserved for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
The International Olympic Committee has urged the federation to drop its equestrian side after the horse abuse incident at the Tokyo Games last summer.
In modern pentathlon, athletes must compete with a horse they are not familiar with. Annika Schleu, who was at the top of the classification before the riding event in Tokyo, had all the trouble in the world to control her horse and gave it a lot of punch. The battered horse multiplied the rejection of barriers and led to the collapse of the German classification.
Coach Kim Raisner recruited Annika Schleu already hit the animal, drawn by lot as required by the rules.
Raisner was expelled by UIPM from the Games for punching a horse.
In months of consultations conducted secretly by the UIPM leadership, hundreds of athletes, including Olympic gold medalists, signed a motion of no confidence in the president and member of the board of directors, Klaus Schormann.
The measure filed on Monday must be approved by a majority of the national federation members.
The Pentathlon United team of athletes meanwhile is questioning the single obstacle course test when so many options are proposed.
Source: Radio-Canada
