FEI Suspends Equestrian Federation of India - Indian Athletes Barred from Competing

Dressage

FEI

The FEI has suspended the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) following an online board meeting on 13 October 2026. The suspension will take effect on 1 December 2026.

The FEI notified EFI of this decision in a letter dated October 15 and addressed to members of EFI's ad hoc committee, Lt Col (retd) Sandeep Dewan and advocate Vidushpat Singhania.

Governance and Leadership Irregularity

The FEI argued that, "the dissolution by the High Court of Delhi in February 2026 of the Executive Committee of Equestrian Federation of India, whose elected tenure had expired in September 2023, coupled with the absence of elections to date to elect a new Executive Committee, has resulted in a prolonged governance and leadership irregularity that is no longer sustainable."

EFI notified the FEI that elections for the EFI Executive Committee are expected to take place by 31 January 2027.

Francisco Lima, FEI Governance Director, wrote that "the suspension will be reviewed once elections for the Executive Committee have been held and have been evaluated by the FEI."

Furing 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. 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.

Title Defender India at the 2026 Asian Games

Most recently India failed to defend its 2023 Asian Games team gold medal and title at the 2026 Games in Tokyo.

The selection and fielding of the Indian dressage team for Tokyo were riddled with controversy, lawsuits and legal threats up to the start of the competition at the Baji Koen equestrian centre in Japan. At the pre-quarantine in Aachen attempts were made to prevent Hriday Chheda's horse Dono di Maggio from flying to Tokyo because of alleged fitness issues.

At the 2026 Asian Games India finished fourth in the team competition. India's best performing rider in Tokyo was Chheda who finished 8th int he Kur to Music on his 19-year old gelding.