Three-time gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin has been banned from equestrian for one year after a disturbing video showing her whipping a horse emerged online.
Dujardin was accused of hitting her horse 20 times with a whip as it walked around a dirt training area. The disgraced champion withdrew from the 2024 Olympics in Paris over blowback from the chilling clip.
Dujardin, widely regarded as Britain’s greatest horsewoman, is suspended from competing in all equestrian events overseen by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) — the governing body of horse sports — until July 23, 2025.
“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,” the organization said in a statement. It is the view of the FEI that Ms Dujardin’s misconduct warrants the imposition of sanctions.”
“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,” the statement concluded.
Dujardin was also slapped with an $11,300 fine and is not allowed to appeal the decision.
Both British Equestrian and British Dressage have implemented the same suspension.
After the harrowing video emerged online, Dujardin said she was “deeply ashamed” by her “error of judgment” displayed in the clip.
“A video has emerged from four years ago which shows me making an error of judgment during a coaching session,” Dujardin said in a statement when she withdrew from the Olympics in July.
“What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse. I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.”
Dujardin, who has six Olympic medals under her belt, was rumored to be a Damehood in King Charles’ upcoming New Year’s Honors List prior to the ordeal.
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In addition to no longer being considered for the coveted honor, she has been removed from her role as ambassador by Brooke — a UK-based horse welfare charity.
In a further blow, the athlete’s 2017 CBE for services to equestrianism, given to her by the royal family, is now under review by the Honors committee.
Dujardin, 39, won gold medals in team and individual dressage in 2012 in London and took home gold in individual dressage in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
She also won a silver medal in team dressage in Rio, and bronze medals in team and individual dressage in Tokyo in 2021.
