● EVEN

before the horse-slapping, modern pentathlon was already clinging to Olympic status by its fingertips. Now, it is to be reinvented as Ninja Warrior, but without the fun. Instead of a genuine equestrian test — riding a randomly allotted, unfamiliar horse over fences — there will be an obstacle course including monkey bars, a balance beam, rope swings and a wall.

‘These are professional athletes and there is a real risk to their credibility,’ said Olympic bronze medallist Kate Allenby. Not to mention the test on the patience of the viewing public. Who wants to watch Gladiators without the showbiz?

Kim Raisner, the German coach who lost control and struck a horse in Tokyo, has inspired this over-reaction. Annika Schleu, the rider, wasn’t good enough to control her mount Saint Boy and was becoming emotional. Raisner stepped in with a hard slap. They should both have received bans, and the sport could have continued as before.

Instead, this nonsense. They should scrap the lot and introduce Taskmaster. Much more of a challenge and a lot more fun.