The Federation's Grievance Process

Protected Competitions

If your grievance involves participation in a Protected Competition as defined by USEF Bylaws and USOPC Bylaws, you may elect to pursue the matter following the USOPC’s process.

Athlete Ombuds

Team USA athletes may contact the Office of the Athlete Ombuds for independent and confidential advice on a variety of sport related matters, including their rights, applicable rules, policies or processes, and questions related to resolving disputes and grievances.

The Athlete Ombuds can also help Team USA athletes connect with legal, mental health, and other support resources. All other NGB athletes (i.e., athletes competing at the masters, recreational, or youth level) are welcome to visit the Athlete Ombuds website to review informational resources and should wor- directly with their NGB to understand additional resources and options available to them.

Phone: 719-866-5000

Email: [email protected]

Website: usathlete.org

Athlete Ombuds Confidentiality and Privacy Policy:

(A) In general--The Office of the Athlete Ombuds shall maintain as confidential any information communicated or provided to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds in confidence in any matter involving the exercise of the official duties of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds.

(B) Exception--The Office of the Athlete Ombuds may disclose information described in subparagraph (A) as necessary to resolve or mediate a dispute, with the permission of the parties involved.

(C) Judicial and administrative proceedings--

1. In general--The ombudsman and the staff of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds shall not be compelled to testify or produce evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding with respect to any matter involving the exercise of the duties of teh Office of the Athlete Ombuds.
2. Work product--Any memorandum, work product, notes, or case file of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds--
   1. shall be confidential; and
   2. shall not be--
      1. subject to discovery, subpoena, or any other means of legal compulsion; or
      2. admissible as evidence in a judicial or administrative proceeding.

1. applicable federally mandated reporting requirements;
2. a felony personally witnessed by a member of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds;
3. a situation, communicated to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds, in which an individual is at imminent risk of serious harm; or
4. a congressional subpoena.

Non-Protected Competitions

This process applies to all competitions licensed by USEF or FEI for which USEF selects participants.

Pursuant to USEF Bylaws 701 and 704, the Hearing Committee has jurisdiction to hear all other Opportunity to Participate ("OTP") grievances. The grievance must allege a denial or threatened denial of an opportunity to participate as set forth in Bylaw 701(1)(b), and the Petitioner must agree to be subject to the applicable procedures and to be bound by any decision rendered pursuant to those procedures.

An OTP grievance filed in connection with a non-protected competition will follow the General Hearing Procedures outlined in USEF Bylaw 702. The grievance filed with USEF will not be expedited unless the Petitioner demonstrates in writing that the regular procedures would not be likely to produce a sufficiently early decision.

Please see USEF Bylaws Part VII and Supplemental Procedures for Complaints and Grievances for additional information on the process. For procedural guidance for filing a grievance, please contact Emily Pratt at [email protected].