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Three-time Olympic equestrian rider Shane Rose is in danger of missing the 2024 Paris Games after being stood down for wearing a mankini costume at an event last weekend.
A complaint was registered with Equestrian Australia (EA) and Sports Integrity Australia after Rose took part in the fancy dress event at the Wallaby Hill Extravaganza in the Southern Highlands on February 11.
He wore three costumes on the day – a gorilla suit, a Duffman beer suit and the G-string swimsuit made famous in the film Borat.
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“There were concerns raised about it. Whether it is one (complaint) or 1000, we have an obligation to review it,” EA chief executive Darren Gocher told the SMH.
“We received a letter with concerns and it was also sent to Sports Integrity Australia and the ASC (Australian Sports Commission) and we have an obligation under our code of conduct to review, if that happens.
“He hasn’t been sanctioned, he hasn’t been suspended. He has been stood down from competition while we review and we have committed to getting the review done this week.”
Rose won silver medals at the 2008 and 2020 Olympics, plus bronze in 2016, and a disciplinary review by EA could see him suspended – and threaten his chances of selection for this year’s Games.
“EA are following their protocols and I have been stood down from competing until the investigation happens, which hopefully is in the next few days,” he told the SMH.
“For my sake, I am hoping I have done nothing too bad because I have an important competition in the next few weeks.”
He added: “My phone went nuts (after the event) with people laughing and things. But I have been told there was one lady, and I think the words were she showed concern, not a formal complaint.
“With a bit of luck this will all be a bit of a laugh in a few days and we can all move on. I wore a costume which you could see at a theme park or a beach, potentially no one has done it on (a) horse, but there you go.
“I think I am a good person and I do a lot for the sport, and for people in different situations. I don’t feel like I have done anything particularly bad. In hindsight, I should have re-thought what I did but at the time I thought it was just a bit of fun. Hopefully in a couple of days we can all move on and it will be behind us.”
The equestrian community has been overwhelmingly supportive of Rose with many changing their Facebook profile pictures to Borat in response to the stand-down.
Three-time Olympian Wayne Roycroft said in a Facebook comment: “Shane, I apologise for the action taken by EA you have contributed to the equestrian community more than any one I know, not to have full support of EA is shameful, from my point of view my actions whilst on that board was first and foremost was to support the atheltes (sic) there is no way you should be under suspension.”
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