Charlotte Dujardin: The FEI banned the three-time Olympic dressage champion for whipping horses for a year.
Charlotte Dujardin, a three-time Olympic dressage gold medallist, declares she will “always aim to do better” following her one-year ban and 10,000 Swiss franc (£8,886) fine for “excessively” lashing a horse.
Days before the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris began, in July, video surfaced showing the 39-year-old repeatedly hitting the horse with a lengthy whip around its legs.
The FEI, the world governing body of equestrian sports, issued Dujardin a worldwide ban that is retroactive to the beginning of her temporary suspension. Beginning in July 2025, she will have the opportunity to participate again.
British Dressage and British Equestrian have also supported the suspension, which will prevent Dujardin from taking part in national training or competition events during that period.
The Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) released its verdict today, and I fully respect it,” Dujardin said.
Since the Federation has acknowledged that my video actions do not represent me, I must apologize again. I am aware of the responsibility that comes with my role in the sport, and I will always strive for improvement.
“This has been one of my darkest and most difficult times, and I want to thank everyone who has supported me.”
In addition to former track cyclist Dame Laura Kenny’s five golds and one silver, Dujardin’s six Olympic medals—three gold, one silver, and two bronze—are the joint most of any British female Olympian.
On July 23, the FEI placed Dujardin on provisional suspension for “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare,” a day after they obtained a video of her severely beating a horse during a training session at a private stable.
The FEI reported no other complaints about Dujardin’s behavior after the training session video was released, and the video did not show any rule violations.
“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.” Sabrina Ibanez, secretary general of the FEI
“We believe this outcome reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to equine welfare and to its role as guardian of our equine partners.”
Ibanez went on to say that while it was “regrettable” that the episode had made the sport headlines for “all the wrong reasons” before the Paris Games, the FEI had taken prompt action by initiating an investigation and temporarily suspending the video.
After acknowledging that she was the individual in the video, Dujardin withdrew from the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where she was scheduled to compete for Team GB.
UK Sport states that Dujardin is “ineligible to receive public funding and publicly funded benefits” while she is serving her ban, and they will review any future funding beyond the FEI sentence.
Jim Eyre, the CEO of British Equestrian, stated that the moral treatment and well-being 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 stated.
Furthermore, British Dressage declared its solidarity with the FEI in adopting a zero-tolerance approach to horse abuse.
Chief executive Jason Brautigam stated, “We launched the charter for the horse last year and remain totally committed to upholding these standards.”
“Collaborating closely with our colleagues throughout the federation, we will persist in prioritizing the health, care, and welfare of the horse in all our actions and actively showcasing the ethical and responsible conduct of equestrian sport.”
