Charlotte Dujardin: Three-time Olympic champion handed one-year ban
Three-time Olympic dressage gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin has been banned for a year and fined 10,000 Swiss francs (£8,886) for “excessive” whipping of a horse.
Video footage emerged in July showing the 39-year-old repeatedly hitting a horse’s legs with a long whip just days before the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Dujardin’s international ban, issued by the Fédération Equestrian Internationale (FEI), the world governing body of equestrian sport, is backdated to the start of her provisional ban and will make her eligible to compete again from July 2025.
British Equestrian and British Dressage were also suspended, with Dujardin unable to participate in national competitions or training events during the same period.
Dujardin’s six Olympic medals include three gold, one silver and two bronze, making her the most decorated British female Olympian, alongside former track cyclist Dame Laura Kenny’s five Tied with a silver medal.
Dujardin was temporarily suspended on July 23 for “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare,” a day after the FEI received a video showing Dujardin being excessively whipped during training at a private stable. horses.
The International Equestrian Federation said the footage of the training session did not constitute any other violation, adding that no further complaints had been made about Dujardin’s behavior since the video was released.
FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibanez said: “These significant sanctions send a clear message that anyone, regardless of their identity, who commits actions that harm the welfare of horses will be will face serious consequences.”
“We believe this result reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to equine welfare and its role as guardian of our equine partners.”
Ibanez added that it was “regrettable” that the case had thrust the sport into the news for “all the wrong reasons” ahead of the Paris Games, but said the FEI had taken decisive action by launching an investigation and temporarily pause the video.
Dujardin withdrew from the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she was due to compete for Team GB, after admitting she was the person filmed.
The FEI initiated formal disciplinary proceedings based on three allegations; cruelty to horses, conduct that brought the FEI and/or equestrian sport and the FEI into disrepute, and breach of the FEI Horse Welfare Code of Conduct.
