Muntik nang mapurnada ang pagsali sa paparating na 2024 Olympic Games ng Australian equestrian na si Shane Rose, 50, na three-time Olympic medalist.
Nagsuot kasi ito ng striking orange G-string bikini o “mankini” sa isang showjumping event sa Wallaby Hill, Australia noong February 11, 2024.
Ikinagulat ito ng Equestrian Australia, ang national equestrian organization, at tinaguriang “poor example” ang ipinakita ni Shane, na tinawag pang “ignorant.”
Naging national issue sa Australia ang ginawa ni Shane, at dahil dito, tinanggal siya nang panandalian sa equestrian organization.
Naglunsad din ng imbestigahan para malaman kung may ginawa nga siyang paglabag sa code of conduct.
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EQUESTRIAN ORGANIZATION RELEASES DECISION
Nitong February 19, inilabas ng Equestrian Australia ang desisyon nito.
Pinalampas nila ang ginawa ni Shane at pinayagan siyang ipagpatuloy ang paghahanda para sa 2024 Olympics na gaganapin sa Paris, France.
"The Equestrian Australia Review Panel met on Monday and found that Mr Rose did not breach the code of conduct at Wallaby Hill on 11 February," parte ng pahayag.
"This does not affect his ability to train or otherwise participate in the sport.”
Una nang nag-sorry si Shane sa kanyang ginawa na hindi nagustuhan ng Australian equestrian governing body.
"I'm sorry if I overstepped the mark," aniya sa interview.
"I was just having a bit of a laugh, and I think if you can't have a bit of fun in sport then there's no point in doing it."
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Sabi niya, sana may mag-move on na ang lahat mula sa isyu.
"For my sake, I am hoping I have done nothing too bad because I have an important competition in the next few weeks," dagdag niya.
Naglabas din ng sentimiyento si Australia Equestrian chief executive Kieren Perkins.
Sabi niya sa interview, “I'm sure what we've learned is that role models need to pay close attention to the impact they're having on everyone around them and think about what that means for not only themselves, but their sport as a whole.
"I hope we never see a mankini in public in that kind of environment again."
Si Perkins, isang dating freestyle swimmer, ay itinuturing na Australia’s greatest Olympian.
Si Shane naman ay nanalo noon ng silver medals sa Olympic Games noong 2008 (Beijing), Tokyo (2020), at bronze sa Rio De Janeiro, Brazil (2016).