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Skelton: Unhappy at Whitaker treatment
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Team GB showjumpers Nick Skelton and Tim Stockdale hit out at some of their fellow Olympic competitors after team-mate John Whitaker was not allowed to compete in the team showjumping final which was ultimately won by the United States.
Great Britain started the day in fourth looking well-placed for a medal, but ended in seventh place some ten points behind Norway in the bronze medal spot.
The US emerged triumphant after a dramatic jump-off with Canada - the first time the medal has been decided by such a showdown.
However, Great Britain were left to rue the exclusion of Whitaker and his horse Peppermill who were ruled ineligible to compete.
Teams are permitted four riders, but only the three best scores count towards the final team score and, although Whitaker had been unable to ride yesterday due to,a problem with Peppermill, they were both expected to be allowed to participate on Monday.
That did not prove to be the case, though, as seven of the nine competing teams lodged a protest to the International Equestrian Federation's appeal committee against his eligibility.
As a consequence he was disqualified and ruled ineligible from competing in the second round.
That left Team GB needing each of their three other riders to have near faultless rounds to maintain their medal hopes, but Skelton, on Russel, picked up 13 penalty points overall before Stockdale, on Corlato, scored eight meaning Ben Maher's superb clear round was in vain.
However, Whitaker's exclusion left his team-mates fuming, with Skelton stating: "It is all about sportsmanship at the Olympic Games. We are not cheating and it is ridiculous.
"I wouldn't want to win on a technicality, I would want to win fair and square."
Stockdale echoed Skelton's sentiments, adding: "It is unsporting and is not in the concept of the Olympics.
"In respect of what John (Whitaker) has done for showjumping it is disappointing. Some people should hang their head in shame.
"Medals are at stake I suppose and John is good and so people fear him. Perhaps some people saw it as an opportunity to get John out of the competition.
"We could have led him (Peppermill) into a fence yesterday and got eliminated but we didn't. It is disappointing."
