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Charlotte Dujardin, one of the stars of Team GB ahead of the Olympics, has been banned from the Paris Games and dropped as ambassador for an animal charity over allegations she whipped a horse “24 times” like it was “an elephant in a circus”.
Dujardin, a three-time Olympic champion, earlier withdrew from all competitions due to a video that shows the dressage star “making an error of judgement during a coaching session” for a young rider four years ago.
Welfare campaign group Brooke said Dujardin was no longer an ambassador.
“We were deeply disturbed to learn about this video,” a spokesperson said. “Our whole ethos is around kindness and compassion to horses, and to see the opposite of this from someone with such a high profile is beyond disappointing. There can never be a justification for mistreating animals.”
Stephan Wensing, a lawyer representing the 19-year-old who filed the complaint against Dujardin, said the incident took place when the 39-year-old was telling her student to lift up the legs of the horse.
He told The Telegraph: “She took the long whip and she was beating the horse more than 24 times in one minute.” He added: “It was like an elephant in the circus.”
The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) confirmed that it had been sent footage of Dujardin “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare” and had decided to provisionally suspend the rider for six months with immediate effect.
The FEI said in a statement that Dujardin fully cooperated with their investigation, admitting she is the individual in the video and acknowledging her conduct was inappropriate before withdrawing from the Olympics.
Dujardin was bidding to become Britain’s most decorated female Olympian at this summer’s Games in Paris. In a statement, she said she is “deeply ashamed” and the incident “was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils”.
The 39-year-old withdrew from all competitions while the International FEI investigated the footage, and the organisation has now decided to suspend Dujardin for six months while it continues its investigation.
Mr Wensing told Dutch website Horses.nl: “It is unacceptable that dressage sport should be accompanied by animal abuse. If top-level sport can only be performed in such a way that the welfare of the horse is compromised, then top-level sport should be abolished.”
“We are deeply disappointed with this case, especially as we approach the Olympic Games in Paris 2024, said the FEI’s president Ingmar De Vos. “However, it is our responsibility and crucial that we address any instances of abuse, as equine welfare cannot be compromised.
“Charlotte has expressed genuine remorse for her actions, and we recognise and appreciate her willingness to take responsibility. Despite the unfortunate timing, we believe this action reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to welfare as the guardians of our equine partners and the integrity of our sport.”
A statement from Dujardin on Tuesday said: “A video has emerged from four years ago which shows me making an error of judgement during a coaching session.
“What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however, there is no excuse. I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment. I am sincerely sorry for my actions and devastated that I have let everyone down, including Team GB, fans and sponsors.”
The Olympics opening ceremony is on Friday while the dressage competition at Paris 2024 is scheduled to begin on 30 July, at the Chateau de Versailles.
A medal of any colour would have taken Dujardin ahead of cyclist Laura Kenny as Britain’s most decorated female Olympian, with the pair currently tied on six medals.
It would also have virtually guaranteed her a place on the honours list.
Dujardin won team and individual gold medals at London 2012 and won individual gold and team silver four years later in Rio, competing in both games on horse Valegro.
Dujardin had a different horse, Gio, at the delayed Tokyo Games three years ago and she was set to ride Imhotep this summer in Paris.
Gio, a diminutive horse who was bought as a five-year-old by Dujardin following Rio, was then sold just months after the Tokyo Games.
One of the biggest controversies of the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021 was a German modern pentathlon coach being thrown out of the Olympics for punching a horse.
