America’s Cup: Five year suspension for Oracle Team USA crew

Two people with knowledge of the situation say America’s Cup sailor Dirk de Ridder has been suspended from sanctioned events for five years by sailing’s international governing body.

The people spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the suspension is being appealed.

Unless a review board or the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturns the suspension, it effectively ends de Ridder’s sailing career. At age 41 years, not only is de Ridder banned from the 2017 America’s Cup, but he’s unable to accept a $500,000 contract to sail in the Volvo Ocean Race, which begins later this year.

Word of the suspension comes days after two New Zealand attorneys criticized the international jury that punished members of America’s Cup champion Oracle Team USA, including de Ridder, for illegally altering boats used in warmup regattas. – Associated Press