Equestrian Federation of India Faces Suspension Threat from FEI

EFI at Risk of Suspension by FEI

The Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) is currently under serious threat of suspension from the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the governing body for equestrian sports, due to a significant 'breach of principles'.

In a recent correspondence, the FEI has criticized the EFI for not adhering to the time-sensitive directives issued by the Delhi High Court, which mandated the establishment of an ad hoc committee, constitutional amendments, and the conduction of new elections.

FEI Director of Governance, Francisco Lima, noted in his letter that the deadline for finalizing the Constitution and By-laws, as well as organizing elections, was set to expire on June 27, 2026.

Lima stated, 'To date, the FEI has not received any communication regarding the approval of a revised EFI Constitution that aligns with the relevant Indian sports regulatory framework, nor have elections been conducted democratically. As a result, the current governance structure of the EFI does not seem to reflect a governing body elected by its members in accordance with the applicable legal framework.'

In a stern warning, Lima mentioned that the FEI Board would make a final decision regarding the suspension of the EFI during their meeting scheduled for October 13.

He added, 'In line with Article 8.3 of the FEI Statutes, and considering the potential suspension of EFI by the FEI Board, we are providing EFI with the chance to submit a written explanation concerning the issues outlined above. This explanation must reach the FEI by September 28, 2026.'

The EFI last conducted elections in 2019 and has been entangled in legal disputes since then. On February 18, 2026, the Delhi High Court issued a significant ruling directing the formation of an ad hoc committee to oversee the sport in India, with instructions to finalize the constitution and hold elections within a 30-day timeframe.