Olympic Champion Charlotte Dujardin Gets One-Year Ban Over Horse Whipping Scandal

Charlotte Dujardin is Britain’s joint-most decorated female Olympian with six Olympic medals.

Olympic champion in equestrian Charlotte Dujardin has been handed a one-year suspension and fined 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,886) for “excessively” whipping a horse.

The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) reprimanded the Olympian after she was found guilty of mistreatment of the horse, as she is seen repeatedly striking the animal with a long whip during training, in a four-year-old video. 

The footage appeared just days before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympics after which she was forced to pull out of the marquee competition. An investigation ensued after a complaint was filed by a Dutch lawyer.

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The FEI initiated formal disciplinary proceedings against Charlotte Dujardin 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.

Olympic Champion Charlotte Dujardin Gets One-Year Ban Over Horse Whipping Scandal
Image: @TheSunSport/YouTube

British Equestrian and British Dressage have also upheld the suspension, blocking Dujardin from competing in national competition or training events during the same period.

Jim Eyre, Chief executive of British Equestrian, said the welfare and ethical treatment of horses “has always been a priority”.

“We will continue to work with our member bodies tirelessly to uphold the integrity of our sports through enforcement, education, and advancement in our knowledge,” he added.

Dujardin was provisionally suspended starting 23 July for “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare”, one day after the FEI received the video. She complied with the sanction and will have to wait until 23 July, 2025 to take part in competitions.  

“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,” FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibanez said.

“We believe this outcome reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to equine welfare and to its role as guardian of our equine partners.”

The FEI also confirmed that the footage of the training session did not constitute any other rule violations and added that no further complaints were raised against Dujardin’s conduct since the video emerged.

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Dujardin is Britain’s joint-most decorated female Olympian with six Olympic medals. At the London 2012 Olympics, Dujardin won gold medals in the individual and team dressage, while in Rio in 2016, she bagged gold in the individual competition and silver in the team event.

At 2020 Tokyo Games, she claimed bronzes in both the team and individual competitions.

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