Olympic rider Chiacchia arrested

Former Olympic equestrian rider Darren Chiacchia has been arrested in central Florida, accused of failing to tell his former partner that he has the HIV virus.

Chiacchia was arrested Wednesday, according to a Marion County Sheriff’s Office affidavit. He has been released on $2,000 bail.

Chiacchia’s former partner told investigators that he discovered Chiacchia’s medical paperwork while vacationing in New York with the 2004 U.S. Olympic equestrian team member.

Under Florida law, it is illegal for someone with certain sexually transmitted diseases to have intercourse with another person unless the other person has been notified of the disease and has consented to the sex act. The diseases include HIV, gonorrhea, genital herpes, chlamydia and syphilis. Failure to report HIV to a sexual partner is a third-degree felony, which carries a prison sentence of up to five years. Failure to report the other diseases is a first-degree misdemeanor.

Citing the advice of his attorney, Chiacchia on Thursday night declined to comment, but he told The Associated Press that the allegations were shocking and upsetting.

A message left at the office of Chiacchia’s attorney was not immediately returned.

Chiacchia suffered a near-fatal fall at the Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee in 2008, though he later recovered. He made an appearance last year at a dressage event in Havana