Three-time Olympic dressage gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin says she will “forever aim to do better” after she was banned for one year and fined 10,000 Swiss Francs, an equivalent of £8,886 for “excessively” whipping a horse.
Video footage emerged in July – just days before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympics – of the 39-year-old repeatedly striking the horse with a long whip around its legs.
Dujardin’s international ban, handed out by the FEI – the world governing body of equestrian sports – is backdated to the start of her provisional suspension and she will be eligible to compete again from July 2025.
British Equestrian and British Dressage have also backed the suspension, preventing Dujardin from competing in national competition or training events during the same period.
“I fully respect the verdict issued by the Federation for Equestrian Sports, FEI, released today.
“As the federation has recognised, my actions in the video do not reflect who I am and I can only apologise again. I understand the responsibility that comes with my position in the sport, and I will forever aim to do better.
“This has undoubtedly been one of the darkest and most difficult periods of my life, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me during this time.”
Dujardin’s six Olympic medals, comprising three gold, a silver and two bronze, are the joint most of any British female Olympian, alongside former track cyclist Dame Laura Kenny’s five golds and a silver.
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Dujardin was provisionally suspended on 23 July for “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare”, one day after the FEI received a video showing her excessively whipping a horse during a training session at a private stable.
The FEI said the footage of the training session did not constitute any other rule violations and added that there have not been any further complaints raised against Dujardin’s conduct since the video emerged.
“These significant sanctions send a clear message that anyone, regardless of their profile, who engages in conduct that compromises the welfare of the horse will face serious consequences,” FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibanez said.
“We believe this outcome reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to equine welfare and to its role as guardian of our equine partners.”
Ibanez added it was “regrettable” the case had put the sport in the news for “all the wrong reasons” leading up to the Paris Games but said the FEI had acted decisively by starting an investigation and imposing a provisional suspension on the video emerging.
Dujardin withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she was due to represent Team GB, after admitting she was the person in the video.
UK Sport says Dujardin is “ineligible to receive public funding and publicly funded benefits” while she serves her suspension and any future funding beyond the FEI sanction “will be reviewed”.
Chief executive of British Equestrian, Jim Eyre, said the welfare and ethical treatment of horses “has always been a priority”.
“We will continue to work with our member bodies tirelessly to uphold the integrity of our sports through enforcement, education, and advancement in our knowledge,” he added.
And British Dressage said it is “united with the FEI in taking a zero-tolerance approach” regarding mistreatment of horses.
“We launched the charter for the horse last year and remain totally committed to upholding these standards,” chief executive Jason Brautigam said.
“Working closely with our colleagues across the federation, we will continue to collectively put the health, care and wellbeing of the horse at the heart of everything we do, and proactively demonstrate that equestrian sport is conducted in an ethical and responsible way.”
BBC.com
