Double Olympic dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin has been suspended from all competitors for one yr following a horse whipping controversy that noticed her withdraw from Paris 2024.

Dujardin was provisionally suspended by equestrian’s governing physique, the Worldwide Federation for Equestrian Sports activities, on July 23 because it launched an investigation right into a video from 4 years in the past exhibiting her making what she described as “an error of judgement” throughout a training session.

The video confirmed Dujardin repeatedly hitting a pupil’s horse with a whip from the bottom. Her behaviour sparked widespread condemnation.

The grievance was made to the FEI by 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 back-dated to 23 July of this yr. The PA information company understands that she is not going to enchantment.

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In an announcement, the FEI mentioned: “The FEI has suspended British Dressage athlete Charlotte Dujardin for one yr and imposed a advantageous 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 rules of horse welfare. The time served throughout her provisional suspension might be credited in direction of the one-year suspension.

“Throughout her suspension, Dujardin is prohibited from collaborating in all actions associated to competitions or occasions beneath 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 world horse welfare charity Brooke and the London Worldwide Horse Present.

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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 bike owner Dame Laura Kenny, with whom she is at the moment tied.

Dujardin rose to prominence with particular person and group golds at London 2012 whereas using 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.

British Equestrian chief government Jim Eyre mentioned: “We’re assured that this has been an intensive disciplinary course of and thank these concerned for his or her skilled method. The sanctions have been mentioned at board degree by BEF and British Dressage and each agreed that the suspension and advantageous are according to the parameters outlined within the FEI’s regulatory framework.

“The welfare and moral remedy of horses has at all times been a precedence and nobody concerned in our sport ought to be in any doubt that we count on highest requirements always.”

British Dressage chief government Jason Brautigam mentioned: “We stand united with the FEI in taking a zero-tolerance method to any breaches of our equine welfare insurance policies – and this case has proved that these disciplinary processes work, regulardless of the standing of the person involved.”

PA