A final decision in the row over two German gold medals in the equestrian three-day event will be announced today by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
France, Britain and the United States launched a joint appeal against the German rider Bettina Hoy, saying she crossed the start line in her show-jumping warm-up and should have incurred time penalty points on Wednesday.
Hoy and Germany went on to win the team event ahead of France and Britain and she also later took the individual gold.
If CAS decide against Germany in Saturday’s ruling, Hoy would forfeit both golds as points from the team event’s show-jumping discipline also count towards the individual competition.
Matthieu Reeb, secretary general of sport’s highest appeal body, said officials from all four nations took part in a 2-1/2-hour hearing yesterday in Athens to present their cases.
“We expect a decision at the end of Saturday afternoon,” Reeb said. “It was a normal hearing. Each party presented their view. It was a friendly atmosphere. Everyone was well prepared.”
If CAS were to back the challenge, France would win the team gold, Britain the silver and the US the bronze.
Britain’s Leslie Law also stands to win the individual gold, if CAS rule against Germany, Kimberly Severson (US) silver and Britain’s Pippa Funnell bronze.
