The modern pentathlon faces civil war over plans to introduce steeplechase events | Olympic games

Steeplechase racing is on the verge of being dubbed the new fifth sport in modern pentathlon, replacing equestrianism, in a highly controversial move opponents warn will plunge the sport deeper into civil war.

The Guardian can reveal that Team GB’s champion at Tokyo 2020, Joe Choong, was among a group of Olympic and world medalists who wrote to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Sunday, urging him to intervene and accusing the sport’s governing body, the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne, of ignoring the wishes of its athletes.

“The IOC was clear in its expectation that athletes would have to play a central role in the review and advisory process for a fifth discipline,” the letter said. “That didn’t happen.”

The letter cites a survey by Pentathlon United, an independent athletes’ advocacy group, which found that more than 95% of athletes are dissatisfied with the UIPM’s decision. And it’s calling on the IOC to conduct a “full and independent investigation” into its lack of transparency.

“The UIPM’s consultation process has been illusory at best and, it seems, designed only to legitimize a pre-determined outcome (which we are advised will be an obstacle course in collaboration with World OCR),” the letter adds. “Certainly the athlete’s body has been barred from any meaningful participation.”

The letter comes ahead of a crucial UIPM board meeting on Monday, at which campaigners expect steeplechase races to be voted through ahead of an announcement on Tuesday, barring last-minute intervention.

UPIM ruled in November after harrowing scenes at the Tokyo Games when a horse was beaten by a German trainer after refusing to jump a fence. It immediately met with strong opposition from most athletes, who pushed for reform of the jumping phase rather than abolition.

Originally, the UPIM wanted cross-country cycling as a substitute. Due to fears it would raise the hairs on the back of the International Triathlon Union’s neck, the steeplechase became a big favorite.

Whatever decision is made, it is clear that the loss of the equestrian sport will fundamentally change the modern pentathlon, which has been a pivotal Olympic event since 1912 and has always involved athletes in fencing, swimming, show jumping, pistol shooting and cross-country -Run put to the test. However, the UIPM believes that the sport needs to modernize if it wants to be selected for the LA 2028 Olympics.

Former British modern pentathlete Kate Allenby, who won bronze for Team GB at the Sydney Olympics and led the campaign against the UIPM, told the Guardian the situation was serious but promised the athletes would keep fighting.

“We are facing the greatest threat to our existence in over 100 years,” she said. “Instead of an open, honest and transparent dialogue about the future direction of our sport, the UIPM leadership has chosen to maintain a closed and secret process with non-disclosure agreements for everyone involved in the working group.

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“It is a hallmark of how this UIPM leadership has been running our sport for decades. It has resulted in our sport being banned from the Olympics. As the athletes made overwhelmingly clear in our survey, this is no longer acceptable to them.”

Whether the IOC is listening is questionable. Last December, Bach told the Modern Pentathlon that he needed to come up with a proposal for the “replacement of riding and demonstrate significant reductions in cost and complexity, and improvements in safety, accessibility, universality and appeal to youth.”