Three-time Olympic dressage gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin says she’s going to “endlessly goal to do higher” after she was banned for one 12 months and fined 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,886) for “excessively” whipping a horse.
Video footage emerged in July – simply days earlier than the beginning of the Paris 2024 Olympics – of the 39-year-old repeatedly hanging the horse with a protracted whip round its legs.
Dujardin’s worldwide ban, handed out by the FEI – the world governing physique of equestrian sports activities – is backdated to the beginning of her provisional suspension and he or she shall be eligible to compete once more from July 2025.
British Equestrian and British Dressage have additionally backed the suspension, stopping Dujardin from competing in nationwide competitors or coaching occasions throughout the identical interval.
“I absolutely respect the decision issued by the Federation for Equestrian Sports activities (FEI), launched right now,” Dujardin stated.
“Because the federation has recognised, my actions within the video don’t replicate who I’m and I can solely apologise once more. I perceive the duty that comes with my place within the sport, and I’ll endlessly goal to do higher.
“This has undoubtedly been one of many darkest and most troublesome intervals of my life, and I wish to take this chance to thank everybody who has supported me throughout this time.”
Dujardin’s six Olympic medals, comprising three gold, a silver and two bronze, are the joint most of any British feminine Olympian, alongside former monitor bike owner Dame Laura Kenny’s 5 golds and a silver.
Dujardin was provisionally suspended on 23 July for “partaking in conduct opposite to the rules of horse welfare”, sooner or later after the FEI acquired a video exhibiting her excessively whipping a horse throughout a coaching session at a non-public steady.
The FEI stated the footage of the coaching session didn’t represent another rule violations and added that there haven’t been any additional complaints raised in opposition to Dujardin’s conduct for the reason that video emerged.
“These important sanctions ship a transparent message that anybody, no matter their profile, who engages in conduct that compromises the welfare of the horse will face severe penalties,” FEI secretary common Sabrina Ibanez stated.
“We imagine this end result reaffirms the FEI’s dedication to equine welfare and to its position as guardian of our equine companions.”
Ibanez added it was “regrettable” the case had put the game within the information for “all of the incorrect causes” main as much as the Paris Video games however stated the FEI had acted decisively by beginning an investigation and imposing a provisional suspension on the video rising.
Dujardin withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympics, the place she was because of symbolize Group GB, after admitting she was the particular person within the video.
UK Sport says Dujardin is “ineligible to obtain public funding and publicly funded advantages” whereas she serves her suspension and any future funding past the FEI sanction “shall be reviewed”.
Chief govt of British Equestrian, Jim Eyre, stated the welfare and moral remedy of horses “has at all times been a precedence”.
“We are going to proceed to work with our member our bodies tirelessly to uphold the integrity of our sports activities by means of enforcement, training, and development in our information,” he added.
And British Dressage stated it’s “united with the FEI in taking a zero-tolerance method” concerning mistreatment of horses.
“We launched the constitution for the horse final 12 months and stay completely dedicated to upholding these requirements,” chief govt Jason Brautigam stated.
“Working intently with our colleagues throughout the federation, we are going to proceed to collectively put the well being, care and wellbeing of the horse on the coronary heart of all the pieces we do, and proactively exhibit that equestrian sport is performed in an moral and accountable method.”