Funding threat over bullying

THE British Equestrian Federation risks losing more than £20million of public funding after a damning report said former chief executive Clare Salmon was the victim of bullying and elitism. An independent investigation was launched after Salmon quit in July because of ‘self-interest and bullying behaviour’ in the sport, which includes dressage, eventing and showjumping. She was appointed in 2016 to modernise equestrianism but her approach ruffled feathers and she was forced out. Salmon said: ‘As the report confirms from day one I was “set up to fail” by people who were deliberately frustrating the change required. ‘I was bullied out by people driven by self-interest and elitism. This is unacceptable for an organisation receiving more than £20m of public money.’ The report concludes that if changes are not made, UK Sport and Sport England would be entitled to suspend funding.