After criticism of the existing maternity protection rule in equestrian sport, the world association FEI has made changes. As the association announced, female riders should in future be able to end their maternity leave after just three months.
“This was done to give athletes who have had babies the opportunity not to lose all their ranking points while not competing on the course,” said FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez.
Riders should now have the opportunity to adjust the length of their maternity leave to their individual situation. The previous minimum length of sick leave and maternity leave was six months. The maximum duration is twelve months.
The current regulations state that anyone who applies for maternity leave can keep half of the world ranking points for six months, but was only allowed to ride again after six months. According to the previous FEI design, those who wanted to start earlier lost the points retrospectively during the entire pregnancy break.
Among the critics of the old regulation was the double Olympic champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl.
The dressage rider criticized the federation’s guidelines after the FEI refused her a quick comeback after her baby break.
The association denied her “a starting permit”, criticized von Bredow-Werndl in September. The show jumper Janne Friederike Meyer-zimmermann had repeatedly complained about the interpretation.