Irish showjumpers look set to miss out on competing at Rio 2016 after the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed Horse Sport Ireland’s appeal ©Horse Sport Ireland

Irish showjumpers look set to miss out on competing at this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed Horse Sport Ireland’s (HIS) appeal against the results of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) European Jumping Championships in Aachen, Germany.

The team finished seventh at the Olympic qualifying event last  August, 0.38 penalties adrift of the final Rio 2016 berth earned by Spain.

HSI believed this was caused by an arena steward running across the path of Cian O’Connor, on board his horse Good Luck, prior to the pair picking up four faults on the following fence.

The 36-year-old rider, an Olympic bronze medallist in the individual jumping event at London 2012, claimed the incident with the steward distracted his horse.

Irish team manager Robert Splaine and O’Connor appealed to the Ground Jury, who ruled that as the rider had continued the round they saw no reason to stop him by ringing the bell.

They claimed he also had the opportunity to stop voluntarily due to unforeseen circumstances and Splaine and O’Connor then opted to take the case to the FEI’s Appeal Committee, who refused to overrule the Ground Jury’s decision.

This prompted an appeal to the CAS but the organisation announced today that they are standing by the ruling of the Appeal Committee.

Irish rider Cian O'Connor claims the faults he incurred came after a steward ran onto the course during his run
Irish rider Cian O'Connor claims the faults he incurred came after a steward ran onto the course during his run ©Cian O'Connor/Facebook

The decision means Irish showjumpers will not compete at this year’s Games unless one of the other teams withdraw as they are first reserve following their display at the World Equestrian Games in 2014.

“I have no regrets,” O’Connor wrote on Facebook following the publication of the CAS’ decision.

“I tried everything possible and left no stone unturned in trying to seek fairness for what I feel was an unsporting decision made by the Ground Jury in Aachen.

“It’s time to move on and refocus on the sport rather than getting caught up further in bureaucracy and even more angry with officialdom.

“Team Ireland are first reserve because of the good performance at WEG in 2014 so there is always a chance that we will get there yet - so best to keep aiming for it I guess!

“Another interesting chapter for my book when I get round to it and I look forward to telling the no-holds-barred version!”

O'Connor had won the Olympic gold medal at Athens 2004 but was then stripped of it after his horse Waterford Crystal tested positive for a prohibited substance.

"I am happy that the CAS has confirmed the decision of the FEI Appeal Committee," FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibáñez said.

"This was a field of play issue that was covered by FEI rules, so the CAS ruling upholding the decision made at the time is an important one for the FEI."