Three-time Olympic dressage gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin has been banned for one yr and fined 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,886) for “excessively” whipping a horse.
Video footage emerged in July – simply days earlier than the beginning of the Paris 2024 Olympics – of the 39-year-old repeatedly putting the horse with a protracted whip round its legs.
Dujardin’s worldwide ban, handed out by the FEI – the world governing physique of equestrian sports activities – is backdated to the beginning of her provisional suspension and he or she might be eligible to compete once more from July 2025.
British Equestrian and British Dressage have additionally reciprocated the suspension, stopping Dujardin from competing in nationwide competitors or coaching occasions throughout the identical interval.
“I absolutely respect the decision issued by the Federation for Equestrian Sports activities (FEI), launched in the present day,” Dujardin stated.
“Because the federation has recognised, my actions within the video don’t mirror who I’m and I can solely apologise once more. I perceive the accountability that comes with my place within the sport, and I’ll without end purpose to do higher.
“This has undoubtedly been one of many darkest and most tough durations of my life, and I wish to take this chance to thank everybody who has supported me throughout this time.”
Dujardin’s six Olympic medals, comprising three gold, a silver and two bronze, are the joint most of any British feminine Olympian, alongside former monitor bicycle owner Dame Laura Kenny’s 5 golds and a silver.
Dujardin was provisionally suspended on 23 July for “participating in conduct opposite to the ideas of horse welfare”, sooner or later after the FEI obtained a video displaying her excessively whipping a horse throughout a coaching session at a personal secure.
The FEI stated the footage of the coaching session didn’t represent another rule violations and added that there haven’t been any additional complaints raised towards Dujardin’s conduct because the video emerged.
“These important sanctions ship a transparent message that anybody, no matter their profile, who engages in conduct that compromises the welfare of the horse will face critical penalties,” FEI secretary common Sabrina Ibanez stated.
“We consider this final result reaffirms the FEI’s dedication to equine welfare and to its function as guardian of our equine companions.”
Ibanez added it was “regrettable” the case had put the game within the information for “all of the mistaken causes” main as much as the Paris Video games however stated the FEI had acted decisively by beginning an investigation and imposing a provisional suspension on the video rising.
Dujardin withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympics, the place she was because of characterize Workforce GB, after admitting she was the particular person within the video.
UK Sport says Dujardin is “ineligible to obtain public funding and publicly funded advantages” whereas she serves her suspension and any future funding past the FEI sanction “might be reviewed”.
Chief govt of British Equestrian, Jim Eyre, stated the welfare and moral therapy of horses “has all the time been a precedence”.
“We’ll proceed to work with our member our bodies tirelessly to uphold the integrity of our sports activities by way of enforcement, training, and development in our information,” he added.
And British Dressage stated it’s “united with the FEI in taking a zero-tolerance strategy” concerning mistreatment of horses.
“We launched the constitution for the horse final yr and stay completely dedicated to upholding these requirements,” chief govt Jason Brautigam stated.
“Working intently with our colleagues throughout the federation, we’ll proceed to collectively put the well being, care and wellbeing of the horse on the coronary heart of every part we do, and proactively exhibit that equestrian sport is performed in an moral and accountable means.”
