2 months ago
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Charlotte Dujardin, Britain's joint-most decorated female Olympian, has been provisionally suspended for six months by equestrian's governing body the FEI.
The dressage star had already pulled out of Paris 2024 after a video emerged which she said showed her "making an error of judgement".
The FEI said it had received footage showing three-time Olympic gold medallist Dujardin "engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare - during a training session conducted at Ms Durjardin’s private stable".
A lawyer representing the claimant who filed an official complaint against Dujardin to the FEI said in an accompanying letter seen by the BBC "the video shows Ms Dujardin beating a horse excessively with a whip".
They added: "My client is aware that this complaint could have fair-reaching consequences for Ms Dujardin, including disciplinary sanctions. My client had to think long and hard about whether to bring this to your attention this way."
The FEI said Dujardin confirmed she was the individual in the video which was "filmed several years ago" and "requested to be provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the investigations".
Although the ban remains provisional while the FEI investigates, Dujardin, who has six Olympic medals in total, has said she will "withdraw from all competition while this process takes place".
"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," she said in statement.
"I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment."
English (US) ·