The FEI has been informed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that the suspension of Jessica Kürten (IRL) has been provisionally lifted starting on 15 July 2008.

This was the response to Mrs Kürten’s third request for a stay, the two previous requests having been denied by the CAS. The principal reason for granting a stay at this stage was the inability to hold a hearing at short notice, on 15 July, as proposed by the CAS, due to the unavailability of FEI witnesses and legal representation on this specific date. The FEI had expressed its willingness for the matter to be decided without a hearing, on the basis of written submissions, but Mrs Kürten’s legal team maintained its hearing request. Mrs Kürten has been suspended since 7 June, and her suspension was due to expire on 6 August.

As the next available date for a hearing is in September, CAS has stayed the suspension until the date of the hearing.