The U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced that they are not renewing the contract with dressage team coach Debbie McDonald, thus ending her term.
The contract between USEF and McDonald expired November 30, and will not be renewed. According to USEF, they will continue building on the foundations that McDonald started. McDonald paid close attention to the input of those involved with the team. McDonald who is now 67 years old led the U.S. team to team silver at the Tokyo Olympics.
McDonald is associated with her husband Bob McDonald, who is accused of sexually transgressive behavior with a student in 1970, while working as a hunter and jumping coach. During the first hearing on November 11, Bob McDonald was accused of raping his students, then aged 13 and 14. Debbie McDonald was an assistant trainer at this stable at the time. The McDonalds themselves deny all accusations. The Federation has opted not to renew her term in light of the civil lawsuit brought against McDonald, her husband Bob McDonald and the 32nd District Agricultural Association (California) earlier this month.
Source: Horsenetwork