Two-time Olympic champion Sir Mark Todd has been given an interim suspension by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).
It means the former three-day eventer-turned-racehorse-trainer is ineligible to race horses either in Great Britain or internationally for the foreseeable future.
The BHA had already announced plans for an investigation after a video emerged of Todd whipping a horse with a tree branch.
In a statement today, the BHA said: “The chair of British racing’s independent judicial panel has today approved an application from the BHA that an interim suspension should be placed on the training licence of Sir Mark Todd following the emergence over the weekend of a video of him striking a horse with what appears to be a branch.
“The interim suspension means that while investigations continue into the circumstances of this incident, Sir Mark will be unable to race horses in Great Britain or internationally.”
Todd has already admitted to the BHA that it is him in the video, which is believed to date back to two years ago, and apologised for his actions.
Following the incident, Todd said: “I wholeheartedly apologise to the horse and all involved for my actions in this video clip. One of the main things I preach is about establishing a mutual respect between horse and rider, and that patience and kindness is the best way to get results. I am very disappointed I did not adhere to that in this case.”
