Sports
Olympic Champion Charlotte Dujardin Fined, Suspended For Whipping Horse
Three-time Olympic dressage gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin has been handed a one-year suspension and fined 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,886) for “excessive” use of a whip on a horse.
The punishment follows the emergence of video footage in July, just days before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympics, showing the 39-year-old repeatedly striking a horse’s legs with a long whip.
The suspension, imposed by the FEI, the international governing body for equestrian sports, is backdated to the start of Dujardin’s provisional ban. She will be eligible to return to competition from July 2025.
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British Equestrian and British Dressage have upheld the international ruling, barring Dujardin from participating in national competitions and training events during the suspension period.
“I fully respect the verdict issued by the Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), released today,” Dujardin said.
“As the federation has recognised, my actions in the video do not reflect who I am and I can only apologise again. I understand the responsibility that comes with my position in the sport, and I will forever aim to do better.
“This has undoubtedly been one of the darkest and most difficult periods of my life, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me during this time.”
Charlotte Dujardin’s six Olympic medals—three gold, one silver, and two bronze—tie her with former track cyclist Dame Laura Kenny as the most decorated British female Olympian. Kenny’s tally includes five golds and a silver.
Dujardin was provisionally suspended on July 23 for “conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare,” just a day after the FEI received video evidence showing her excessively whipping a horse during a training session at a private stable.
According to the FEI, the video does not indicate any additional rule violations, and no further complaints regarding Dujardin’s conduct have been reported since the footage surfaced.
“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.”
Ibanez added it was “regrettable” the case had put the sport in the news for “all the wrong reasons” leading up to the Paris Games but said the FEI had acted decisively by starting an investigation and imposing a provisional suspension on the video emerging.
Dujardin withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she was due to represent Team GB, after admitting she was the person in the video.
UK Sport says Dujardin is “ineligible to receive public funding and publicly funded benefits” while she serves her suspension and any future funding beyond the FEI sanction “will be reviewed”.
Chief executive of British Equestrian, Jim Eyre, 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.
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And British Dressage said it is “united with the FEI in taking a zero-tolerance approach” regarding mistreatment of horses.
“We launched the charter for the horse last year and remain totally committed to upholding these standards,” chief executive Jason Brautigam said.
“Working closely with our colleagues across the federation, we will continue to collectively put the health, care and wellbeing of the horse at the heart of everything we do, and proactively demonstrate that equestrian sport is conducted in an ethical and responsible way.”
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