Equestrian Australia (EA) reminds elite riders of EA Code of Conduct after recent defamatory Facebook allegations
Update: Please be advised that this statement is specifically related to comments made by an elite rider regarding EA's FEI rule change process. It is in not related to comments on the EA Hendra By-Law, which remains postponed while a review is ongoing.
Recent untrue and defamatory claims have been made by an elite competitor on Facebook about the Chairman, CEO, EA Board and representatives of EA. Allegations published on media such as Facebook which are untrue and derogatory of EA and its officials risk bringing the sport and the organisation into disrepute.
EA reminds elite riders of EA's Code of Conduct and Social Media Policy which state
EA Code of Conduct
All EA Member or persons required to comply with the EA Member Protection Policy must meet the following requirements in regard to their conduct and behaviour during any activity held or sanctioned by EA, and in any role held within EA or any of its affiliates:
- Be fair, considerate and honest in all dealing with others
- Refrain from any behaviour that may bring EA, its member associations or affiliated clubs into disrepute
EA Social Media Policy
- Defamatory, disrespectful and hateful comments about individuals or organisations will not be tolerated.
- Representatives must not bring EA or the sport of equestrian into disrepute.
- EA representatives should ensure that comments made on social media abide by EA’s Code of Conduct and are in line with EA’s Member Protection Policy, specifically:
- Respect the rights, dignity and worth of others
- Refrain from any form of harassment of others
- Refrain from any behaviour that may bring EA, its member associations or affiliated clubs into disrepute
Further to this EA's Riders Agreement with riders on EA's Elite Squads and Teams requires compliance with these policies. The Agreement provides for a grievance procedure for riders who wish to raise concerns with EA.
EA welcomes debate including public scrutiny of its performance. However, allegations in media such as Facebook which are untrue, derogatory and defamatory do not advance the interests of the sport. Elite riders who engage in such conduct could face sanction particularly in cases where the rider has not sought first to verify the facts and has not complied with the grievance procedures in their Riders Agreement.
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