Charlotte Dujardin: British dressage star provisionally suspended

Charlotte Dujardin, one of the most successful female Olympians from Britain, has been temporarily suspended by the FEI, the governing body for equestrian sports.

The dressage celebrity had already withdrawn from Paris 2024 after a video surfaced that she claimed showed her "making a mistake in judgement".

The FEI stated that they had been sent a video showing three-time Olympic gold medalist Dujardin "participating in actions that do not align with the values of horse welfare - while training at her personal stable".

An attorney for the person who made a formal complaint against Dujardin to the FEI stated in a letter seen by the BBC that "the footage demonstrates Ms. Dujardin using a whip to strike the horse aggressively".

They stated that their client is aware that this complaint could greatly impact Ms. Dujardin, potentially resulting in disciplinary actions. Their client carefully considered whether to raise this issue in this manner.

BBC Sport has not viewed the video in question.

But the FEI stated that Dujardin admitted she was the person in the video that was recorded "many years ago" and she asked to be temporarily suspended until the investigations are completed.

The organization first declared a halt of six months, but later changed it to state that the prohibition would continue until the investigation and disciplinary actions are concluded.

Even though the ban is only temporary while the FEI looks into the matter, Dujardin, who has won a total of six Olympic medals, has stated that she will "pull out of all competitions during this investigation".

She explained that what occurred was not typical of her usual behavior when training horses or coaching students, but she acknowledged that there was no justification for it.

I feel really sorry and I should have been a better role model at that time.

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) and British Dressage (BD) have both temporarily suspended Dujardin while the FEI investigation is ongoing.

In a statement, the FEI also mentioned that they plan to continue their investigation as quickly as they can.

FEI president Ingmar De Vos emphasized that it is our duty to speak up and take action against any cases of abuse, as the well-being of horses must always be protected.

Charlotte Dujardin has shown that she is truly sorry for what she did, and we acknowledge and value her openness to accept blame.

Even though the timing was not ideal, we think this decision shows that the FEI is dedicated to taking care of our horse companions and upholding the honesty of our sport.

During the recent Olympics in Tokyo in 2021, German modern pentathlon coach Kim Raisner was removed from the Games for allegedly hitting a horse.

That event led to significant changes with the horseback riding part being replaced by a challenging obstacle course.

Becky Moody and her horse Jagerbomb serve as Team GB's backup pairing for the dressage event.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) stated that they will be requesting to add an additional athlete to the team through the IOC's Late Athlete Replacement regulations.

It stated: "The BOA considers animal welfare to be very important, and we think that everyone is accountable for making sure horses are well taken care of."

Jason Brautigam, the CEO of British Dressage, expressed his distress over the troubling accusations from the past. He assured that they are cooperating fully with the FEI investigation and will not hesitate to take necessary disciplinary actions once the investigation is concluded.

Jim Eyre, the CEO of British Equestrian, stated that they will follow all requests from the FEI to cooperate with their investigation.

He said, "As the protectors of horseback riding sport, we need to maintain the best levels of care for the horses - their health and happiness are the most important things."

Roly Owers, the leader of World Horse Welfare, mentioned: "A key element for the future of horse sports is having the trust of the public. It is important that the public believes that those involved in equestrian activities are taking good care of their horses and treating them with kindness and empathy."

"If the trust is broken, it will harm the sport. This should serve as a significant reminder for those who believe this isn't crucial, as it definitely is."

Charlotte Dujardin, who is 39 years old, achieved victory in both the team and individual categories at the London 2012 Games while riding Valegro. The duo continued their success by claiming individual gold and team silver medals at the Rio Olympics four years later.

Riding a different horse named Gio, she took home two bronze medals at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Games.

Dujardin was going to take part in the individual dressage and team event with Carl Hester and world champion Lottie Fry, riding a new horse named Imhotep.

She was aiming for a medal, of any color, to surpass retired cyclist Dame Laura Kenny as the most decorated British female Olympian.

In an interview with BBC Sport last week, Dujardin expressed that it felt like a dream to be so close to achieving that milestone and reaching it would be an unforgettable moment.

Dressage is the original equestrian sport where the rider and horse showcase their talents by performing choreographed movements to music while walking, trotting, and cantering.

Review - Laura Scott, BBC Sport journalist

The announcement came as a surprise and took many people in the British Olympic organization by surprise. It is sure to have a big impact on the team as they gear up for the start of the Games.

During my recent visit to Dujardin's stables in Gloucestershire, she expressed her optimism about achieving a historic feat in Paris. She mentioned her desire to bring pride to her young daughter and was seen as a strong contender for the gold medal, both in the individual and team events.

She will not participate in the Games at all. Besides affecting Team GB's chances of winning medals, this situation could also have significant consequences for the overall perception of equestrian sport in society. She is a prominent figure in British sports and animal welfare is a topic that is closely scrutinized.

With just three days left until the start of the opening ceremony, the timing of this couldn't be more unfortunate, and the repercussions could be significant.