Olympics-Equestrian-France's Staut to miss Olympic showjumping as horse unfit

FILE PHOTO: Kevin Staut of France rides his horse For Joy van't Zorgvliet HDC in the FEI Jumping World Cup competition, during Gothenburg Horse Show at Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden February 23, 2020. Picture taken February 23, 2020. TT News Agency/Bjorn Larsson Rosvall via REUTERS/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - French rider Kevin Staut will miss the Olympic showjumping competition starting on Thursday after his horse Viking D'La Rousserie failed the veterinary inspection on Wednesday due to a haematoma on one of its feet.

The FEI, the sport's governing body in charge of the Olympic competition, also disqualified the horse of Mexican rider Andres Azcarraga.

"They were not fit to compete," an FEI spokesperson said when asked about both cases.

Staut, who won a gold medal for France in the team jumping competition at Rio 2016 and is currently 17th in the world rankings, told reporters after the final check: "I don't even have the words to describe it, it's horrible."

He will be replaced by Olivier Perreau with his mount Dorai D'Aiguilly.

(Reporting by Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Toby Davis)