Equestrian Sport: A former director who is also a part-time employee of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) has been suspended on full pay and the association's director general has been asked to stand down temporarily during investigations into a breach of the Employment Act which was revealed at the first meeting of the SJAI's new executive committee in Dublin last night, reports Grania Willis.
Following a stormy 4 1/2-hour meeting, during which the five northern region representatives and two from Munster walked out, newly-elected chairman Brian Gormley stated that agreement had been reached unanimously amongst the remaining 13 members of the executive to suspend the individual while the matter is investigated.
Following the walkout the remaining members of the executive also agreed to the formation of a sub-committee to investigate the matter.
A full report is expected to be delivered to the executive within seven days and Gormley, serving his third term as national chairman, is hoping that this will bring to a close one of the most bitter internal disputes the association has ever suffered. Gormley expects that the director general will be reinstated and resume his duties "within a matter of days".
The Irish Sports Council has already withheld this year's funding for the SJAI on the recommendation of the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI). The EFI has also threatened to suspend the SJAI over the recent controversies.
Suggestions of financial irregularities have featured throughout the dispute and the Sports Council withdrew funding on the suggestion of serious misuse of SJAI monies.
However, Gormley stressed last night that "any money that was used has been explained and accounted for" and no misuse has as yet come to the notice of the SJAI auditors.
Rowing: Activities on the water may be winding up, but the coming months will bring some interesting changes for rowing in Ireland. The Irish Sports Council's grant to rowing of £263,076 - up £64,000 on last year - contained a provision for £35,000 for an executive director, and the filling of this post will be eagerly awaited.
However, Irish Amateur Rowing Association president Tom Fennessey said yesterday that the union's priority is the appointment of a director of coaching, who will oversee the international programme in the run up to the Olympics, by the end of February. Only then will the executive director be appointed.
Basketball: The Washington Wizards picked a proven winner when they named Michael Jordan president of basketball operations on Wednesday, but the results weren't immediately apparent. Hours after the official announcement that Jordan had become an equity partner in the floundering franchise, the former Chicago Bulls superstar saw his new team lose 104-86 to Dallas.
