The 39-year-old UK dressage champion got here beneath fireplace after a video of her whipping the legs of a horse throughout a lesson emerged days earlier than the Paris Olympics started.
Dujardin apologised following the discharge of the video, however finally determined to withdraw from what would have been her fourth Olympic Video games.
“What occurred was utterly out of character and doesn’t mirror how I prepare horses or coach my pupils, nevertheless, there is no such thing as a excuse. I’m deeply ashamed and may have set a greater instance in that second,” she mentioned concerning the video.
Dujardin was suspended in July for “participating in conduct opposite to the ideas of horse welfare” pending an investigation earlier than being handed a global one-year ban by the Worldwide Federation for Equestrian Sports activities (FEI).
The competitors horse rider who mentioned her behaviour was “an error of judgment” was additionally fined 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,886) over the incident.
In a press release, the FEI mentioned: “Throughout her suspension, Dujardin is prohibited from taking part 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 was on observe to develop into Britain’s most embellished feminine Olympian earlier than she was compelled to tug out of the Paris video games. Right here’s what it is advisable to know.
Dujardin withdrew from the Paris Olympics
Bradley Collyer/PA Wire
Who’s Charlotte Dujardin?
Born in Enfield and raised round Hertfordshire, Dujardin began using horses at a really younger age. Her dad and mom all the time inspired her ardour for equestrian sports activities, even shopping for her a Shetland pony when she was a teen.
When her grandmother died, Dujardin obtained an inheritance that enabled her to purchase her first dressage horse, and it solely went up from there.
Working for a number of distinguished folks within the equestrian business, Dujardin rose by means of the ranks as a distinguished and profitable rider.
In 2011, she debuted on the Grand Prix earlier than taking part within the first dressage group to win a gold medal. The next yr, she secured her first sport within the Olympic Video games, incomes two gold medals on the time.
Dujardin holds six Olympic medals in complete: two gold from London 2012, gold and silver in Rio 2016, and two bronze in Tokyo 2020. If she had participated within the Paris Olympics, she might have develop into Britain’s most embellished feminine Olympian.
In 2023, Dujardin gave delivery to her first baby along with her accomplice Dean Golding.
Other than her equestrian successes, she’s additionally starred in a Netflix present, obtained an OBE and a CBE and has revealed a profitable biography ‘The Woman on the Dancing Horse’.
She launched a press release on Tuesday, which learn: “This has undoubtedly been one of many darkest and most tough durations of my life, and I wish to take this chance to thank everybody who has supported me throughout this time.”
Within the assertion she added that she is pregnant along with her child due in February.
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Double particular person Olympic dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin says she “totally respects” the choice to droop her for one yr following a horse whipping controversy, and revealed she was pregnant on the time the incident got here to gentle.
Dujardin was provisionally suspended by the Worldwide Federation for Equestrian Sports activities (FEI) on July 23 – the week that the Paris Olympics began – because it launched an investigation right into a video from 4 years in the past displaying her making what she described as “an error of judgement” throughout a training session.
The FEI mentioned on Thursday that Dujardin had admitted three fees, and that it had issued a one-year suspension backdated to July 23 and a ten,000 Swiss franc nice (£8,881).
Dujardin accepted the governing physique’s ruling, whereas revealing she had been pregnant on the time the video got here into the general public area.
In a press release to the PA information company following the announcement of the FEI sanction, Dujardin mentioned: “I totally respect the decision issued by the FEI, launched at present.
“Because the federation has recognised, my actions within the video don’t mirror who I’m and I can solely apologise once more. I perceive the accountability that comes with my place within the sport, and I’ll perpetually purpose to do higher.
“This has undoubtedly been one of many darkest and most tough intervals of my life, and I want to take this chance to thank everybody who has supported me throughout this time. To these of you who’ve despatched messages, emails and tried to succeed in me to verify in on how I’m – thanks. All types phrase really has made a distinction, greater than you’ll ever know.
“What I used to be unable to share on the time is that I’m at present pregnant, with my child due in February.
“This was deliberate effectively earlier than the Olympics and one thing my companion Dean and I’ve been enthusiastic about for a very long time.
“In the mean time, the power I’ve is targeted on Dean and our daughter Isabella, and we’re all very a lot wanting ahead to the arrival of our new member of the family.”
The video confirmed Dujardin repeatedly hitting a scholar’s horse with a whip from the bottom, behaviour which sparked widespread condemnation.
The criticism was made to the FEI by Dutch equine lawyer Stephan Wensing on behalf of an unnamed consumer. Wensing’s agency has been contacted for remark relating to the sanction imposed on Dujardin.
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 when the video surfaced.
UK Sport, in the meantime, suspended Dujardin’s eligibility to obtain public funding in the summertime pending the result of the FEI investigation.
The elite sports activities funding physique issued an replace by way of a spokesperson on Thursday which learn: “We count on all employees and athletes in Olympic and Paralympic sport to stick to the very best requirements of behaviour, ethics and integrity.
“Consistent with the UK Sport eligibility coverage, Charlotte Dujardin is ineligible to obtain public funding and publicly-funded advantages for a similar time interval because the FEI sanction.
“Her eligibility to obtain public funding past the sanction imposed by the FEI can be reviewed underneath our eligibility coverage.”
The 39-year-old might 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 present tied.
Dujardin rose to prominence with particular person and crew 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 govt 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 had been mentioned at board degree by BEF and British Dressage and each agreed that the suspension and nice are according to the parameters outlined within the FEI’s regulatory framework.
“The welfare and moral therapy of horses has at all times been a precedence and nobody concerned in our sport needs to be in any doubt that we count on highest requirements always.”
British Dressage chief govt 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, whatever the standing of the person involved.”
Roly Owers, the chief govt of the World Horse Welfare charity, mentioned: “What all of us want to remove from this unhappy episode is that how we practice our horses have to be moral – which in observe means respecting our horses and the way they be taught, utilizing methods that the horse understands, that reward and don’t trigger worry or misery.”
From reproductive rights to local weather change to Massive Tech, The Impartial is on the bottom when the story is creating. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Phrase’, which shines a light-weight on the American ladies preventing for reproductive rights, we all know how essential it’s to parse out the information from the messaging.
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Double particular person Olympic dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin says she “absolutely respects” the choice to droop her for one yr following a horse whipping controversy, and revealed she was pregnant on the time the incident got here to gentle.
Dujardin was provisionally suspended by the Worldwide Federation for Equestrian Sports activities (FEI) on July 23 – the week that the Paris Olympics began – because it launched an investigation right into a video from 4 years in the past displaying her making what she described as “an error of judgement” throughout a training session.
The FEI stated on Thursday that Dujardin had admitted three costs, and that it had issued a one-year suspension backdated to July 23 and a ten,000 Swiss franc wonderful (£8,881).
Dujardin accepted the governing physique’s ruling, whereas revealing she had been pregnant on the time the video got here into the general public area.
In a press release to the PA information company following the announcement of the FEI sanction, Dujardin stated: “I absolutely respect the decision issued by the FEI, launched at the moment.
“Because the federation has recognised, my actions within the video don’t replicate who I’m and I can solely apologise once more. I perceive the accountability that comes with my place within the sport, and I’ll without end goal to do higher.
“This has undoubtedly been one of many darkest and most tough intervals of my life, and I want to take this chance to thank everybody who has supported me throughout this time. To these of you who’ve despatched messages, emails and tried to achieve me to examine in on how I’m – thanks. All kinds phrase actually has made a distinction, greater than you’ll ever know.
“What I used to be unable to share on the time is that I’m at the moment pregnant, with my child due in February.
“This was deliberate properly earlier than the Olympics and one thing my companion Dean and I’ve been enthusiastic about for a very long time.
“For the time being, the power I’ve is targeted on Dean and our daughter Isabella, and we’re all very a lot wanting ahead to the arrival of our new member of the family.”
From reproductive rights to local weather change to Massive Tech, The Impartial is on the bottom when the story is creating. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Phrase’, which shines a lightweight on the American girls combating for reproductive rights, we all know how vital it’s to parse out the information from the messaging.
At such a important second in US historical past, we’d like reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to each side of the story.
The Impartial is trusted by Individuals throughout your complete political spectrum. And in contrast to many different high quality information shops, we select to not lock Individuals out of our reporting and evaluation with paywalls. We consider high quality journalism ought to be obtainable to everybody, paid for by those that can afford it.
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.
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.
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.”
From reproductive rights to local weather change to Large Tech, The Unbiased is on the bottom when the story is creating. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Phrase’, which shines a lightweight on the American ladies preventing for reproductive rights, we all know how necessary it’s to parse out the details from the messaging.
At such a essential second in US historical past, we want reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to either side of the story.
The Unbiased is trusted by People throughout the complete political spectrum. And in contrast to many different high quality information retailers, we select to not lock People out of our reporting and evaluation with paywalls. We imagine high quality journalism ought to be accessible to everybody, paid for by those that can afford it.
Your help makes all of the distinction.
Three-time Olympic equestrian gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin was suspended from all competitors for one yr on Thursday following a horse-whipping scandal that noticed her withdraw from the Paris Video games in July.
Dujardin was provisionally suspended by the Worldwide Federation for Equestrian Sports activities on July 23 because the governing physique launched an investigation right into a video from 4 years in the past exhibiting her repeatedly whipping a horse whereas teaching one other rider.
A grievance was made to the FEI by Dutch equine lawyer Stephan Wensing on behalf of an unnamed shopper.
Dujardin can not compete once more till July subsequent yr, with the suspension back-dated to July 23 of this yr. The FEI’s sanction, for “participating in conduct opposite to the ideas of horse welfare,” additionally included a nice of 10,000 Swiss francs ($11,300).
Dujardin accepted the sanctions and won’t be interesting.
In its ruling, the FEI mentioned it thought of that the video “constituted the one prevalence of horse abuse dedicated by” Dujardin and due to this fact seen it as an “remoted incident.”
The 39-year-old Dujardin gained gold on the 2012 London Olympics in group and particular person dressage and gained one other particular person gold on the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Video games. She took bronze in group and particular person on the Tokyo Video games in 2021 and a silver within the group occasion in Rio.
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AP sports activities: https://apnews.com/sports activities
Charlotte Dujardin has been suspended for one yr after a video emerged of the double Olympic dressage champion whipping a horse repeatedly.
The suspension means Dujardin is prohibited from collaborating in all worldwide and nationwide competitions or occasions that the Federation for Equestrian Sports activities (FEI) – the worldwide governing physique of equestrian sports activities – oversees.
Each British Equestrian and British Dressage have carried out the identical suspension, the FEI stated in an announcement on Thursday.
The dressage rider has additionally been fined 10,000 Swiss Francs (about £8,800).
Referring to the video of a training session, she stated what occurred was “fully out of character” and “doesn’t mirror how I practice my horses or coach my pupils”.
After the discharge of the video again in July, Dujardin was handed a provisional suspension for partaking in conduct opposite to the FEI’s rules on horse welfare.
The governing physique stated the time she has already served beneath the provisional suspension will probably be deducted from the year-long suspension.
“It’s regrettable that this case has put our sport within the headlines for all of the improper causes, particularly throughout a crucial time main as much as the Olympic Video games,” FEI secretary normal Sabrina Ibanez stated.
She stated the sanctions handed to Dujardin ship a “clear message that anybody, no matter their profile, who engages in conduct that compromises the welfare of the horse will face critical penalties”.
Dujardin has received six Olympic medals, making her Britain’s joint-most adorned feminine Olympian.
On the London 2012 Olympics, Dujardin received gold medals within the particular person and group dressage, whereas in Rio in 2016, she took gold within the particular person competitors and silver within the group occasion.
Three years in the past, on the postponed 2020 Tokyo Video games, she claimed bronzes in each the group and particular person competitions.
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Bho chòraichean gintinn gu atharrachadh clìomaid gu Large Tech, tha The Impartial air an talamh nuair a tha an sgeulachd a’ leasachadh. Co-dhiù a tha e a’ sgrùdadh ionmhas an pro-Trump PAC aig Elon Musk no a’ toirt a-mach am prògram aithriseach as ùire againn, ‘The A Phrase’, a tha a’ deàrrsadh air na boireannaich Ameireaganach a tha a’ strì airson còraichean gintinn, tha fios againn cho cudromach sa tha e na fìrinnean a sgrùdadh. teachdaireachdan.
Aig àm cho èiginneach ann an eachdraidh nan SA, tha feum againn air luchd-aithris air an talamh. Leigidh an tabhartas agad leinn cumail oirnn a’ cur luchd-naidheachd a bhruidhinn ri gach taobh den sgeulachd.
Tha earbsa aig Ameireaganaich thar an speactram poilitigeach gu lèir anns an Impartial. Agus eu-coltach ri mòran ionadan naidheachd càileachd eile, tha sinn a’ roghnachadh gun a bhith a’ glasadh Ameireaganaich a-mach às ar n-aithris agus mion-sgrùdadh le ballachan pàighidh. Tha sinn den bheachd gum bu chòir naidheachdas càileachd a bhith ri fhaighinn leis a h-uile duine, le pàigheadh air a shon leis an fheadhainn as urrainn a phàigheadh.
Dujardin chaidh a chuir dheth gu sealach le buidheann riaghlaidh marcachd, an Caidreachas Eadar-nàiseanta airson Spòrs Marcachd, air 23 Iuchar agus iad a’ cur air bhog sgrùdadh air bhidio o chionn ceithir bliadhna a’ sealltainn gun do rinn i na thuirt i mar “mearachd breithneachaidh” aig seisean coidsidh.
Sheall a’ bhidio gu robh Dujardin a’ bualadh air every oileanach le cuip bhon talamh. Bhrosnaich an giùlan aice càineadh farsaing.
Chaidh an gearan a chuir chun FEI leis an neach-lagha every Duitseach Stephan Wensing às leth neach-dèiligidh gun ainm.
Tha Dujardin a-nis air an iomall bhon fharpais gu lèir chun Iuchar an ath-bhliadhna, leis an stad air ais air ais gu 23 Iuchar na bliadhna search engine optimization. Tha buidheann naidheachdan PA a’ tuigsinn nach dèan i tagradh.
Ann an aithris, thuirt an FEI: “Tha an FEI air stad a chuir air an lùth-chleasaiche Breatannach Dressage Charlotte Dujardin airson aon bhliadhna agus air càin CHF 10,000 (£ 8881) a chuir air, gu h-èifeachdach a’ crìochnachadh na h-imeachdan smachdachaidh na h-aghaidh.
“Tha Dujardin air a chuir dheth gu sealach bho 23 Iuchar 2024 airson a bhith an sàs ann an giùlan a tha an aghaidh prionnsapalan sochair every. Thèid an ùine a chaidh a thoirt seachad fhad ‘s a tha i an crochadh sealach a chreidsinn airson a’ chasg aon-bhliadhna.
“Nuair a tha i air a chuir dheth, tha Dujardin air a thoirmeasg bho bhith a’ gabhail pàirt anns a h-uile gnìomh co-cheangailte ri farpaisean no tachartasan fo ùghdarras an FEI no Caidreachas Nàiseanta.
“Tha Marcachd Bhreatainn agus Dressage Breatannach air a’ chasg a chuir air ais, agus mar thoradh air sin chan eil Dujardin airidh air a bhith a’ farpais ann am farpais nàiseanta no tachartasan trèanaidh rè na h-ùine search engine optimization.”
Chaidh Dujardin, a tha air sia buinn Oiliompaiceach a chosnadh a’ toirt a-steach òr fa leth ann an 2012 agus 2016, a chuir às le luchd-urrais agus a leigeil sìos mar thosgaire leis a’ charthannas sochair every cruinneil Brooke agus an London Worldwide Horse Present.
Aig an aon àm, chuir UK Sport stad air ion-roghnachd Dujardin airson maoineachadh poblach fhaighinn.
Dh’ fhaodadh am boireannach 39-bliadhna a bhith air a bhith mar an Oiliompian boireann as sgeadaichte ann am Paris ann am Breatainn. Bhiodh bonn de dhath sam bith air a toirt air falbh bhon rothaiche Dame Laura Kenny, leis a bheil i an-dràsta ceangailte.
Dh’ èirich Dujardin gu follaiseachd le buinn òir fa-leth is sgioba aig Lunnainn 2012 fhad ‘s a bha e a’ marcachd air Valegro – gu clàr-fuaim a bha a ’toirt a-steach Land of Hope and Glory. Ghlèidh an dithis an tiotal a bh’ ann roimhe agus choisinn iad airgead anns an fhear mu dheireadh aig Rio 2016.
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There may be one North Star on the Olympics, one inalienable fact that guides this motion via unsure occasions. Athletes measure success in gold, silver and bronze however the Worldwide Olympic Committee is a little more brutal about the true backside line.
With out sponsors and broadcasters, the Olympics could be a shell occasion, which is why the Worldwide Federation for Equestrian Sports activities (FEI) might quickly be pressured to make some tough choices about the way forward for dressage.
The footage confirmed her utilizing a protracted whip at the least 24 occasions in a single minute throughout a lesson at her personal steady in Gloucestershire.
Dujardin’s Video games had been prematurely completed – she withdrew from the staff hours earlier than she was handed an preliminary six-month provisional ban earlier than the FEI concluded its report. Her future past the suspension and the street to LA28 stays unsure.
Six Olympic medals have translated into vital monetary success, with a string of organisations as her official sponsors, together with high-end equestrian manufacturers Charles Owen and Le Mieux. For 9 years, she has labored as a worldwide ambassador for animal welfare charity Brooke. These endorsements look on extraordinarily skinny ice at the moment.
Much more unclear is the way forward for dressage on the Video games – and there’s precedent for the game’s concern, the FEI is already on the watch listing, with Olympic organisers extremely involved about reputational harm, particularly of their bid to steer youthful audiences to have interaction. The game is ready for LA28, but the venue is pending the town of Los Angeles’ approval.
“What it’s essential perceive is what occurred right here with Dujardin is just not an remoted incident on this sport,” Mr Wensing instructed The Unbiased this summer time. “That is actually the tip of the iceberg and I don’t count on this story to be the final, extra riders will likely be watching this involved, I’ve little doubt about that.
“There’s a concern tradition in dressage and that’s why my shopper needs to stay nameless however issues want to vary – this isn’t sport, it’s merely animal cruelty.
“It’s unacceptable that dressage as a sport needs to be accompanied by animal abuse – how may we watch this particular person (Dujardin) perhaps gather one other Olympic gold and keep silent? If top-level sport can solely be carried out in such a manner that the welfare of the horse is compromised, then top-level sport needs to be abolished, it’s that easy. That’s the query dealing with the FEI and the Worldwide Olympic Committee now.”
Dujardin was eager to emphasize the video confirmed an remoted incident, an “error of judgement” from a number of years in the past. Nevertheless, the harm she has achieved to her profession and model is incalculable and the influence on her sport even perhaps better. Now her suspension has been confirmed, the game should rebuild at first of a brand new Olympic cycle.
And maybe there needs to be no shock, earlier this 12 months seven-time Olympic dressage champion Isabell Werth wrote to FEI president Ingmar de Vos and FEI secretary common Sabrina Ibanez to precise concern in regards to the sport’s future after a string of animal cruelty instances.
“Our sport is in critical hazard,” she mentioned. “The present scandals and the dangerous popularity threaten its existence and will imply the tip of dressage as an Olympic self-discipline.”
Equestrian circles will be famously nepotistic and high dressage horses can value as much as £200,000 – usually making the game the protect of the rich and well-connected, a pattern that Dujardin bucked. And with this amount of cash comes big strain to carry out.
Final 12 months, a Danish tv channel broadcast an undercover investigation from the using college of Andreas Helgstrand, a former Olympic dressage bronze medallist. Horses had been exhibiting bleeding from their mouths and flanks after coaching periods and the rider was banned till 2025.
Earlier this 12 months, graphic movies had been launched from the stables of American dressage rider Cesar Parra. He was proven repeatedly whipping and even kicking his horses.
It’s greater than a decade for the reason that FEI banned the controversial dressage coaching methodology often called Rollkur, which includes a rider pulling the horse’s mouth far down with the reins, in order that the animal virtually bites its personal chest.
Nevertheless, there’s a perception that behind closed doorways the apply stays. German worldwide Matthias Rath was pressured to disclaim utilizing the Rollkur on his horse Totilas throughout a coaching occasion 4 years in the past, the horse dying later that 12 months.
Equestrianism has high-profile supporters throughout the Olympic motion, together with Anne, Princess Royal – a European champion and Staff GB Olympian in eventing. However the sport is conscious about the strain that may very well be utilized if welfare scandals proceed.
It’s not low-cost to stage and each aspect of each sport on the Video games is ruthlessly scored by the IOC, together with press protection and social media sentiment.
Two years in the past, double Olympic eventing champion Mark Todd was pressured to apologise after a video posted on TikTok confirmed him repeatedly putting a horse with a department.
And in Tokyo, German fashionable pentathlon coach Kim Raisner was suspended from the Olympics after punching a horse in the course of the present leaping aspect of the competitors.
The FEI might quickly come underneath related strain and dressage, which delivers a lot much less business income than different equestrian disciplines, might pay the value. And Dujardin will finally share the blame.
A model of this story was initially printed on 25 July
From reproductive rights to local weather change to Massive Tech, The Unbiased is on the bottom when the story is creating. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Phrase’, which shines a light-weight on the American ladies combating for reproductive rights, we all know how essential it’s to parse out the information from the messaging.
At such a essential second in US historical past, we’d like reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to each side of the story.
The Unbiased is trusted by People throughout the complete political spectrum. And in contrast to many different high quality information retailers, we select to not lock People out of our reporting and evaluation with paywalls. We consider high quality journalism must be obtainable to everybody, paid for by those that can afford it.
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 displaying 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 criticism 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 12 months, with the suspension back-dated to 23 July of this 12 months. The PA information company understands that she is not going to enchantment.
In a press release, the FEI stated: “The FEI has suspended British Dressage athlete Charlotte Dujardin for one 12 months and imposed a fantastic of CHF 10,000 (£8881), successfully concluding the disciplinary proceedings towards her.
“Dujardin has been provisionally suspended since 23 July 2024 for participating in conduct opposite to the rules of horse welfare. The time served throughout her provisional suspension will probably be credited in direction of the one-year suspension.
“Throughout her suspension, Dujardin is prohibited from taking part in all actions associated to competitions or occasions below 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 gained six Olympic medals together with particular person gold in 2012 and 2016, was ditched by sponsors and dropped as an envoy by international horse welfare charity Brooke and the London Worldwide Horse Present.
UK Sport, in the meantime, suspended Dujardin‘s eligibility to obtain public funding.
The 39-year-old might have turn into 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 presently tied.
Dujardin rose to prominence with particular person and crew golds at London 2012 whereas using Valegro – to a soundtrack that included Land of Hope and Glory. The duo retained the previous title and gained silver within the latter at Rio 2016.