WHIP SCANDAL
Shamed Olympic legend Charlotte Dujardin is SUSPENDED for a year after shocking video showed her whipping horse
Watch the shocking footage in our video player
DOUBLE Olympic dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin has been suspended for one year after a shocking video emerged of her whipping a horse.
The controversy saw her withdraw from the Paris Games and the International Federation for Equestrian Sports has now announced her ban.
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Britain’s greatest horsewoman quit the Paris Olympics in disgrace this summer after a video emerged that showed her beating a horse 25 times on its legs with a long whip.
The video was passed to the FEI, the governing body of horse sports including dressage.
The three-time Olympic gold medallist said she was “deeply ashamed” by her “error of judgement” in a coaching session at a private stable.
In a statement today, Dujardin accepted the verdict and revealed she was pregnant.
She said: "I fully respect the verdict issued by the Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), released today.
"As the federation has recognised, my actions in the video do not reflect who I am and I can only apologise again.
"I understand the responsibility that comes with my position in the sport, and I will forever aim to do better. This has undoubtedly been one of the darkest and most difficult periods of my life, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me during this time.
"To those of you who have sent messages, emails and tried to reach me to check in on how I am – thank you. Every kind word truly has made a difference, more than you’ll ever know.
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"What I was unable to share at the time is that I am currently pregnant, with my baby due in February.
"This was planned well before the Olympics and something my partner Dean and I have been excited about for a long time.
"At the moment, the energy I have is focused on Dean and our daughter Isabella, and we are all very much looking forward to the arrival of our new family member."
Following the review, FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibanez said: "The FEI carefully reviewed the video, and counted more than 20 hits of the whip.
"Such use clearly amounts to an excessive use of the whip which caused, or was likely to have caused discomfort and possibly pain to the horse.
"These significant sanctions send a clear message that anyone, regardless of their profile, who engages in conduct that compromises the welfare of the horse will face serious consequences.
"We believe this outcome reaffirms the FEI's commitment to equine welfare and to its role as guardian of our equine partners.
"It is the view of the FEI that Ms Dujardin’s misconduct warrants the imposition of sanctions.
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"Ms Dujardin admits that she committed Abuse of Horse, a breach of the FEI Code of Conduct for the Welfare the Horse, and engaged in conduct that brings the FEI and/or equestrian sport into disrepute."
Ibanez added it was "regrettable" the case had put the sport in the news for "all the wrong reasons" leading up to the Paris Games but said the FEI had acted decisively by starting an investigation and imposing a provisional suspension on the video emerging.
The FEI said the footage of the training session did not constitute any other rule violations and added that there have not been any further complaints raised against Dujardin's conduct since the video emerged.
Dujardin also received a fine of 10,000 Swiss Francs (around £8900) as she accepted the sanctions she cannot appeal.
Her ban is backdated to the start of her provisional suspension and she will be eligible to compete again from July 2025.
The FEI initiated formal disciplinary proceedings based on three charges; abuse of a horse, conduct that brings the FEI and/or equestrian sport and the FEI into disrepute and breach of the FEI code of conduct on the welfare of a horse.
Had she won an Olympic medal of any colour, she would have seven on her CV from four Games, which would have overtaken Laura Kenny’s cycling record of six.
The Enfield-born competitor would have been all-but-certain to be handed a Damehood in the King’s New Year’s Honours List.
Dujardin has also been axed as an ambassador by horse welfare charity Brooke.
And her 2017 CBE for services to equestrianism could also be reviewed by the Honours committee.
In July, UK sport announced that her funding had been suspended pending the conclusion of a FEI (International Federation for Equestrian Sports) investigation.
A UK Sport spokesperson previously said: “We expect all staff and athletes in Olympic and Paralympic sport to adhere to the highest standards of behaviour, ethics and integrity.
“We are disturbed by the serious concerns that have been raised in the past 24 hours regarding horse welfare and Charlotte Dujardin.
“Sport national governing bodies are required to notify us when they become aware of any conduct-related issues involving a World Class Programme athlete or member of staff so it can be reviewed under the Funding Eligibility Policy.”
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An onlooker filmed the clip during a lesson with a 19-year-old female student at her private stable.
The whistleblower who sent the video to the FEI governing body was a sponsor of the girl seen riding the horse.
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