Three-time Olympic gold medal-winning dressage star Charlotte Dujardin has been suspended for one year and fined for “excessively” whipping a horse.
Days before the opening of the 2024 Paris Olympics, a video went viral showing Dujardin repeatedly wrapping a whip around a horse's leg.
The British athlete withdrew from the competition because of the video and was accused of “acting against the principles of horse welfare”.
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Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep during competition during the Team Grand Prix Presented by Helgstrand Dressage Part 2 of the FEI European Championships Dressage 2023 in Holstel, Germany on September 7, 2023. (Jenny Musal/Defody Images via Getty Images)
The FEI, the world governing body for equestrian sport, on Thursday issued an international ban and fined Dujardin 10,000 Swiss francs.
This suspension is retroactive to the start of her interim suspension and will make her eligible to compete again in July 2025.
Gold medal winning equestrian declines to participate in Olympics after video shows alleged 'misjudgment' of horse
“I fully respect the FEI's decision announced today,” Dujardin said. According to BBC.com.
“As the federation acknowledges, my actions in the video do not reflect who I am. All I can do is apologize again. I understand the responsibility that comes with my position in this sport. I will always strive to do better.”
Charlotte Dujardin poses with her horse Pete (Imhotep) at the Team GB Paris 2024 Olympic Equestrian Team presentation at Ocherbrook Mill in Newent, England on July 2, 2024. (Dan Istiten/Getty Images)
When the video was released, Dujardin said it was “four years old and… shows that I made an error in judgment during a coaching session.”
“Naturally, the Fédération Internationale de Equestrian Sport (FEI) is investigating and while this process takes place, I have decided to withdraw from all competitions, including the Paris Olympics,” a statement at the time said. said.
Dujardin won the team and individual dressage events in 2012, winning two of the three gold medals. She also won a gold medal in the individual event and a silver medal in the team event at the 2016 Rio Games.
British jockey Charlotte Dujardin, who rides the horse Imhotep, waves. (Rolf Vennenberg/Photo in association with Getty Images)
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At the Tokyo Olympics, Dujardin won bronze medals in both the team and individual events.
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