After being handed a one-year suspension for the excessive use of a whip on a horse, UK dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin stated she will “always strive to improve.” The International Federation for Equestrian Sports has also imposed a fine of around $11,000 following its inquiry, as reported by the Washington Post. This penalty is retroactive […]
After being handed a one-year suspension for the excessive use of a whip on a horse, UK dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin stated she will “always strive to improve.” The International Federation for Equestrian Sports has also imposed a fine of around $11,000 following its inquiry, as reported by the Washington Post. This penalty is retroactive to the time she stepped back from the Summer Olympics, allowing Dujardin to return to competition in July 2025, according to the BBC. The governing body mentioned her previously unblemished record as a factor for the leniency of her punishment. “As the federation has acknowledged, what I did in that video does not express who I truly am and I can only apologize once again,” Dujardin said in an online statement.
Charlotte Dujardin, the most decorated female Olympian in British history, has withdrawn from the 2024 Paris Olympics due to a video that caused her “deep embarrassment.” The Telegraph reports that the footage depicts Dujardin whipping a horse multiple times on its legs during a training session. In a statement on Tuesday, Dujardin remarked that the video illustrated “a lapse in judgment during a coaching session” four years prior, as reported by the New York Times.
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“What transpired is entirely uncharacteristic and does not represent my training methods or my approach to coaching,” said the 39-year-old dressage athlete. Dujardin boasts six Olympic medals: two golds in 2012, one gold and one silver in 2016, and two bronzes in 2021. She was preparing to compete in both individual and team events in Paris. The FEI, the governing authority for equestrian sports, announced on Tuesday that Dujardin is provisionally suspended for a period of six months, as reported by the Times. The FEI noted that it had received video evidence of Dujardin “engaging in conduct that violates the principles of horse welfare,” and an inquiry is currently underway, as per the BBC.
In a letter obtained by the BBC, a lawyer representing the whistleblower who disclosed the video to the FEI and submitted an official complaint stated that the footage “captures Ms. Dujardin excessively striking a horse with a whip.” “It is our duty to tackle any occurrences of abuse, as equine welfare must be preserved,” remarked FEI President Ingmar De Vos. He emphasized that Dujardin has “shown sincere regret for her actions, and we acknowledge and value her taking responsibility.”
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This article originally appeared on Newser: British Equestrian Must Withdraw for a Year Due to Horse Whipping
