Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Swiss equestrian Olympian banned for animal cruelty

Paul Estermann competing in an equestrian event in Zurich in 2007.
Paul Estermann competing in an equestrian event in Zurich in 2007. Keystone/eddy Risch

Swiss show jumper Paul Estermann has been banned from equestrian sport for seven years after an earlier conviction for animal cruelty.

Estermann declined to partake in the Swiss Equestrian Federation disciplinary hearing on Thursday.

The decision “reinforces the behavior of the rider, who has shown no remorse for his actions throughout the criminal proceedings”, the tribunal said.

A court in Lucerne found Estermann guilty of several counts of animal cruelty in November of last year for whipping horses.

The ban in competing in equestrian events was imposed as a consequence of this “unacceptable” actions.

Thomas Räber, president of the Swiss Equestrian Federation’s disciplinary committee, said the rider’s “wilful, selfish and aggressive behaviour” showed “blatant disregard for the well-being of horses”, according to the news portal 20 Minuten.

Estermann, who has represented Switzerland in the Olympic Games, has 20 days in which to appeal the decision.

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Seafood can lead to toxic arsenic compounds

More

Seafood can lead to toxic arsenic compounds

This content was published on Potentially toxic arsenic compounds can form in the human body when seafood is consumed. This is caused by arsenobetaine, which is often found in seafood. It can be converted into partially toxic substances by intestinal bacteria.

Read more: Seafood can lead to toxic arsenic compounds
Coop expands food waste program for frozen fresh meat

More

Coop expands food waste programme for frozen meat

This content was published on Swiss retailer Coop is expanding its programme to avoid meat waste. A corresponding pilot project is gradually being extended to the entire store network.

Read more: Coop expands food waste programme for frozen meat
ZH: new trial for lawyer in "cum-ex" scandal

More

New trial in Zurich for lawyer in ‘cum-ex’ scandal

This content was published on German lawyer Eckart Seith, considered in Germany to be the whistleblower in the cum-ex transaction scandal, is set to appear for trial again in Switzerland on Monday.

Read more: New trial in Zurich for lawyer in ‘cum-ex’ scandal

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR