Top U.K. rider out of Olympics after horse-whipping video surfaces

One of Britain’s astir dressed up Olympians, Charlotte Dujardin, has pulled retired of nan 2024 Paris Olympic Games aft a shocking video emerged showing her many times whipping a horse.

Dujardin has won six Olympic medals successful dressage, an equestrian arena successful which equine and rider execute a bid of creator movements. She is tied pinch retired cyclist Laura Kenny for nan astir Olympic medals won by a female jock successful nan U.K.

Dujardin whitethorn person been capable to propulsion up of Kenny astatine this year’s Olympics, but instead, she will service retired a provisional suspension from her athletics until an investigation into her alleged maltreatment is completed.

The world governing assemblage overseeing equestrian sports, known arsenic FEI, suspended Dujardin a time aft it received a video of her “engaging successful behaviour contrary to nan principles of equine welfare,” nan federation wrote successful a property release. The video was sent successful by a lawyer representing an “undisclosed complainant.”

An investigation was instantly initiated and nan FEI reached retired to Dujardin, who confirmed that she was nan individual successful nan video and “acknowledged that her behaviour was inappropriate.”

The footage was allegedly taken respective years agone while Dujardin was coaching a rider astatine a backstage stable. The rider’s personality has not been released.

The disturbing video, viewed by Global News, shows Dujardin successful an indoor riding arena appearing to train a rider connected horseback. Using a agelong whip, Dujardin tin beryllium seen whipping nan horse’s legs and rump dozens of times complete nan people of a infinitesimal arsenic it trots astir nan arena. Dujardin struck nan equine truthful difficult astatine immoderate points that large cracks could beryllium heard echoing done nan building.

Dujardin called her behaviour successful nan video an “error of judgement” successful a statement posted to Instagram.

“What happened was wholly retired of characteristic and does not bespeak really I train my horses aliases coach my pupils, nevertheless location is nary excuse. I americium profoundly ashamed and should person group a amended illustration successful that moment,” she wrote. “I americium sincerely sorry for my actions and devastated that I person fto everyone down.”

While Dujardin claims nan video successful mobility was recorded 4 years ago, nan lawyer who submitted nan alarming footage to nan FEI states it was taken successful 2022.

Stephan Wensing is nan lawyer representing nan whistleblower who recorded nan footage, according to aggregate media reports.

Wensing told Sky News that his customer was compelled to grounds nan incident because she had seen Dujardin prosecute successful akin maltreatment respective times before. His customer felt frightened to study Dujardin owed to her high-profile opinionated successful nan equestrian world, but she wanted to enactment earlier nan 2024 Olympics began.

In an question and reply pinch The Telegraph, Wensing explained immoderate of nan discourse down nan video: “Charlotte Dujardin was successful nan mediate of nan arena. She said to nan student, ‘your equine must assistance up nan legs much successful nan canter.’ She took nan agelong whip and she was beating nan equine much than 24 times successful 1 infinitesimal and really hard, really harsh, really tough.”

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The FEI states that Dujardin is co-operating pinch authorities and that she herself requested to beryllium provisionally suspended pending nan result of nan investigation. She besides voluntarily withdrew from nan Paris Olympics.

Under nan suspension, Dujardin will beryllium prohibited from participating successful FEI-related competitions and events. Dujardin has besides been suspended by nan British Equestrian Federation, making her ineligible to participate successful nationalist competitions.

“We are profoundly disappointed pinch this case, particularly arsenic we attack nan Olympic Games successful Paris 2024. However, it is our work and important that we reside immoderate instances of abuse, arsenic equine use cannot beryllium compromised,” FEI president Ingmar De Vos said.

“Charlotte has expressed genuine remorse for her actions, and we admit and admit her willingness to return responsibility. Despite nan unfortunate timing, we judge this action reaffirms nan FEI’s committedness to use arsenic nan guardians of our equine partners and nan integrity of our sport.”

The U.K. Olympic squad announced Wednesday that Becky Moody will switch Dujardin connected nan equestrian dressage team. Moody will beryllium riding her equine Jagerbomb.