HIGHLY-rated Chepstow show jumper Gemma Plumley has been hit with an extraordinary £50,000 charge after being found guilty of excessive use of a whip in an event over two-years ago.

The 22-year old rider, who is targeting a spot at the London Olympics and who comes from the ultimate sporting family, will have to pay the costs after a long-running saga that was referred to the Sports Dispute Resolution Panel.

The British Show Jumping Association began the process by investigating the alleged incident, which occurred way back in June 2006, subsequently opting to fine and ban Plumley for three months in 2007.

However, Plumley opted to appeal the decision and never served a ban, maintaining her innocence throughout, which led to the issue being referred to the Sports Dispute Resolution Panel.

They have opted to reduce the sanctions imposed by the BSJA, meaning just a suspended suspension for Plumley, who faces a £750 fine in addition to the huge charge, which is to contribute to the BSJA costs and the costs of the Sports Resolution panel.

Gemma is the daughter of Newport estate agent Gary Plumley, a former Newport County goalkeeper who appeared for Watford in their FA Cup semi-final defeat to Tottenham in 1987.

Her sporting heritage doesn’t end there, Gemma’s mother Debbie Plumley, formerly Johnsey, represented Great Britain at show jumping at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, just missing out on a medal.

The Plumley family are astonished by the decision, but in a statement given to the Argus via their solicitors, admitted that it will be futile to continue fighting the issue, particularly as they’ve already incurred separate costs defending Gemma’s cause in the past two-years.

"Gemma maintains her innocence and has fought successfully to continue to compete," they explained.

"She is disappointed not to have been vindicated but sees little to be gained by either side in further deliberation.

She would however like to draw your attention to the full text of the Judgment the link for which can be found at http: //www.bsja.co.uk/_files/SDRP%20Full%20Decision.pdf.

"She shares the Tribunal's hope that ‘a lesson has been learned (by the BSJA) as to how the investigation process might have been improved."

A statement issued by the BSJA confirmed: "Following an Appeal by Gemma Plumley against the decision of the Disciplinary Stewards of the British Show Jumping Association on 17 May 2007 to the Sports Dispute Resolutions Panel, the Sports Resolutions (UK) Panel dismissed the Appeal and found that Gemma Plumley was in breach of Rules 82.3 and 82.4 of the BSJA Rules. "The sanction imposed by the BSJA Stewards was reduced by the Sports Dispute Resolutions Panel to the following: - That Gemma Plumley be reprimanded and cautioned as to her future conduct.

- That she be fined £750.

- That she should be suspended from all rights and privileges of membership of BSJA for a period of 3 months but that the suspension be suspended until 31 May 2010.

Should there be no further disciplinary incident between the decision made on 27th May 2009 to 31 May 2010, the three month suspension will not need to be served.

l That Gemma Plumley should pay £50,000 as a contribution to the BSJA’s costs and the costs of the Sports Resolutions (UK) Panel.