Earlier this week it was announced that Mathilda Karlsson lost her Olympic qualification. As the FEI decided to cancel the obtained Longines Ranking points of the competitions in Villeneuve -Loubet organized at the end of last year, Karlsson suddenly didn't meet the set Olympic target. In their press release the FEI admitted the fault is theirs, as they approved the schedule of the organization. But after complaints were made, and as fair play is central, the FEI nevertheless decided to cancel the ranking points.
Later the French national federation already stated it warned the FEI about the suspicious CSI schedule of the show in Villeneuve-Loubet. Result of the 'fair play' decision of the FEI? The International Federation takes a position that moves their responsibility towards the Sri Lanka rider, Mathilda Karlsson. "This is not fair at all," Karlsson reacts.
"As a rider there's not much we can do. We can only check the schedule as a rider, we cannot do anything else. 16 days before the beginning of the show, the FEI Ranking classes were approved., I decided to accept the invitation of the CSI Villeneuve-Loubet and try to win my Ranking points. It was up to the FEI to check the schedule, much did I know," Karlsson continues.
In her reaction Karlsson states she just followed the rules. "The worst is I don't get a respons on what I (apparently) did do wrong... They just admit they made a mistake in approving the schedule, but rather than taking their responsibility, they 'punish' me."
Much more loss than an Olympic ticket
"For me it was the first time I tried to qualify," Mathilda continues. "Losing the qualification has however more consequences as just losing my dream. Building up my team to reach this dream investments were made which we cannot explain any longer. We invested in Olympic horses, build up a good team, attracted sponsors. Although they all support me, what bothers me most is that I cannot follow up on our agreement. Just because the FEI leaves me hanging out."
Fair play has definitely turned into the opposite for the Sri-Lanka showjumper although she won't leave it at this. "I just want justice. To start with an answer why I am punished for a mistake the FEI made. If I knew I would just have travelled to Rihad, Liverpool and Frankfurt to (try) collect my points..."