British Dressage Star Charlotte Dujardin Provisionally Suspended

Charlotte Dujardin, Britain’s joint-most decorated female Olympian, has been provisionally suspended 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 judgment.”

The FEI stated 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. Dujardin’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.”

The lawyer added, “My client is aware that this complaint could have far-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.”

Good Morning Britain, the ITV breakfast show, aired footage on Wednesday, July 24 2024, morning that appeared to show Dujardin hitting a horse with a long equestrian whip.

Whips are used in all equestrian disciplines and when employed as a training aid should be utilized lightly to communicate with the horse.

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.”

The FEI initially announced a six-month suspension but later said the ban would “remain in place pending the outcome of the investigation/disciplinary proceedings.”

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 a statement. “I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.”

Both British Equestrian (BEF) and British Dressage (BD) have also imposed a provisional suspension on Dujardin pending the outcome of the FEI investigation.

The FEI added it “intends to proceed [with its investigation] as swiftly as possible.”