The statement came shortly after an announcement by Modern Pentathlon Australia (MPA) that it has reversed its original support of the UIPM following "strong feedback from current and former members."

Britain’s Sydney 2000 bronze medallist Kate Allenby, a spokeswoman for the group which has the support of almost 700 of the world’s leading past and present pentathletes who signed a letter calling upon the entire UIPM leadership to resign, called upon the UIPM not to submit to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) its proposal to drop riding as one of the five disciplines. 

The UIPM has claimed the IOC asked it to find a solution to the sport's programme that does not include riding prior to the Olympic programme being ratified later this year for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Pentathlon United also called on the UIPM to delay its Congress, due to take place on November 27 and 28.

Allenby announced: "On behalf of all the athletes who signed our original letter and are now part of Pentathlon United, we say to the UIPM today – firstly, you must not submit any proposals to the International Olympic Committee regarding the future of riding.

"If you do, the athletes are clear that you do not speak for them and you do not do so on their behalf.

"And secondly, postpone next week’s Congress to a future date where we can properly discuss the future of our sport and go to the IOC together with a reformed riding discipline that will showcase the best of our sport at the Olympic Games."

The UIPM previously claimed that, at the Congress, "member federations will have the opportunity to discuss and debate all motions on the agenda."

The Olympic Programme Commission is scheduled to meet on December 1, and the UIPM said it was required to submit a proposal to the IOC one week prior.

This meeting will make recommendations to the Executive Board, who will make a final decision on the programmes for the Games in 2028 at its meeting from December 7 to 9.

Also present within the virtual meeting was Benny Elmann-Larsen, President of the Danish Modern Pentathlon Association, who confirmed that, following the UIPM’s failure to reverse its decision to remove the equestrian event from modern pentathlon by Wednesday (November 17), his federation has filed an application for a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

"Decisions made for the sport need to be fair and in line with the sport," said Elmann-Larsen.

"Athletes need to be respected for their effort and their opinions.

"The decision taken by the UIPM Executive Board was unconstitutional.

"Such a decision can only be taken by Congress – a general assembly of all member nations.

"The procedure used was not in accordance with European statutes – that is, simply put, what we will maintain.

"We see from the large backing of world pentathletes that they know what they want and seem to have lost faith in the International Federation.

"Somehow no one in the UIPM leadership was standing up for them so that is what we have chosen to do.

"We have filed our case with CAS.

"We will of course also try to reach an acceptable compromise with the UIPM on the way.

"Whether that will be possible remains to be seen."

In a statement, the MPA said "strong feedback" following its initial support of the UIPM decision to drop riding had "led the MPA Executive to carry out a more structured consultation process with members and the sport’s community, via an online forum and online survey.

"MPA carried out the consultation in a very short timeframe given the UIPM Congress on 27-28 November."

The statement added: "It should be noted that MPA President Kitty Chiller recused herself from the development of the position statement given her role on the UIPM Executive Board, as the President of Oceania.

Allenby described the "feedback" by Australian pentathletes as "an uprising from the athlete community".