The legal battle surrounding the Hermès Olympic registration has taken a decisive turn. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected a request for an interim injunction, meaning that Dinja van Liere and the stallion Hermès will not compete at the Olympic Games. With the deadline for Olympic registration set at midnight, the Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) is now unable to register the nine-year-old stallion owned by Joop van Uytert. The CAS decision effectively ends any possibility of Hermès participating in the Games this year.
Hermès Olympic Registration Rejected by CAS
The Hermès Olympic registration appeal rejection means the KNHS cannot submit the horse before the Olympic deadline. CAS has not yet provided a detailed explanation for the decision. According to lawyer Luc Schelstraete, the ruling contained only a brief notice. “You receive a note with a single sentence: rejected. No explanation, nothing,” Schelstraete said. Schelstraete was brought in by owner Joop van Uytert to represent the case between the FEI and the KNHS.
No Explanation Yet From CAS
At this stage, CAS has not released any reasoning behind its decision to deny the interim injunction. Such rulings sometimes arrive without detailed motivation initially, with a full written explanation potentially following later. However, the lack of immediate clarification has added to the frustration surrounding the Hermès Olympic registration dispute. For the Dutch team and its supporters, the outcome means the Olympic opportunity for Hermès and Dinja van Liere is now definitively closed.
Further Legal Steps Still Possible
Despite the setback, Schelstraete says the legal battle may not be over. The equine lawyer indicated that additional legal strategies remain under consideration. However, he does not expect those steps to lead to a resolution before the Olympic Games begin. “I still have a few aces up my sleeve,” Schelstraete explained. “But realistically, it will not change the situation in time for the Games.”
FEI Response Remains Uncertain
According to Schelstraete, the core of the dispute involves administrative mistakes within the FEI system that affected the registration of Hermès. However, he is skeptical about whether the federation will take corrective action. “Knowing the FEI, they will likely do nothing to correct their mistake and register Hermès properly after all,” he said. As the legal proceedings continue, the Hermès Olympic registration case could still have wider implications for equestrian governance and administrative accountability in international sport.
Contact Schelstraete Equine Law
Legal disputes in international equestrian sport can involve complex issues such as FEI regulations, horse ownership, Olympic eligibility, and sports arbitration. Schelstraete Equine Law specializes in international equine law and has extensive experience representing riders, owners, and breeders in disputes involving the FEI, CAS, and cross-border equestrian transactions.
Contact Schelstraete Equine Law for expert advice on equestrian legal matters.
Sources
Source: Horses.nl
Photo by Hippo Foto
