Olympic equestrian chiefs have reluctantly told Germany's Bettina Hoy to return her equestrian gold medal. The International Equestrian Federation had overturned Hoy's disqualification but their decision was overruled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
The FEI said it accepts the Cas decision is binding but added it felt it was unjust and unsporting.
Hoy's demotion meant British rider Leslie Law took gold, Pippa Funnell won bronze and the GB team got silver.
Hoy was penalised for crossing the start line twice but the FEI ruled that it was the starting procedure that was at fault and that the rider should not suffer.
But the British, French and US teams successfully appealed to Cas against her re-instatement and the FEI has accepted that the latest decision is final.
A statement said: "The FEI wishes to emphasise that the decision taken by (its) appeal committee was based on fair play and the best interest of the sport, as well as on a different interpretation of the rules."
MMIX
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