The double Olympic dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin has been suspended from all competitors for one yr after a video emerged on the eve of the Paris 2024 Video games of her whipping a horse repeatedly.
Dujardin was pressured to withdraw from the Olympics after the footage from 4 years in the past emerged. Referring to a video of a training session, she stated what occurred was “fully out of character” and “doesn’t mirror how I practice my horses or coach my pupils”.
Dujardin was provisionally suspended by equestrianism’s governing physique, the Worldwide Federation for Equestrian (FEI) Sports activities, on 23 July because it launched an investigation into the video exhibiting her making what she described as “an error of judgment” throughout a training session.
The video confirmed Dujardin hitting a scholar’s horse repeatedly with a whip from the bottom. Her behaviour sparked widespread condemnation.
The grievance was made to the FEI by the Dutch equine lawyer Stephan Wensing on behalf of an unnamed shopper.
Dujardin is now sidelined from all competitors till July subsequent yr, with the suspension backdated to 23 July of this yr. The PA Media information company understands that she is not going to attraction.
In a press release, the FEI stated: “The FEI has suspended British Dressage athlete Charlotte Dujardin for one yr and imposed a superb of CHF 10,000 (£8881), successfully concluding the disciplinary proceedings in opposition to her.
“Dujardin has been provisionally suspended since 23 July 2024 for partaking in conduct opposite to the ideas of horse welfare. The time served throughout her provisional suspension shall be credited in direction of the one-year suspension.
“Throughout her suspension, Dujardin is prohibited from taking part in all actions associated to competitions or occasions underneath the jurisdiction of the FEI or of a Nationwide Federation.
“British Equestrian and British Dressage have reciprocated the suspension, leading to Dujardin’s ineligibility to compete in any nationwide competitors or coaching occasions throughout this era.”
Dujardin, who has received six Olympic medals together with particular person gold in 2012 and 2016, was ditched by sponsors and dropped as an envoy by the worldwide horse welfare charity Brooke and the London Worldwide Horse Present.
UK Sport, in the meantime, suspended Dujardin’s eligibility to obtain public funding.
The 39-year-old may have turn out to be Britain’s most embellished feminine Olympian in Paris. A medal of any color would have taken her away from the bike owner Dame Laura Kenny, with whom she is at the moment tied.
Dujardin rose to prominence with particular person and staff golds at London 2012 whereas driving Valegro – to a soundtrack that included Land of Hope and Glory. The duo retained the previous title and received silver within the latter at Rio 2016.
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