One of GB's most successful Olympians has been banned from her sport for a year
- Published
One of Great Britain's most successful Olympians has been banned for a year from her sport.
Charlotte Dujardin, a three-time equestrian gold medallist withdrew from the Paris 2024 Games in July after a video emerged of her hitting a horse with a long whip around its legs in a training session.
She has now been fined 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,886) and is not allowed to take part in the sport until July 2025.
British Equestrian and British Dressage have agreed with the ban and have said they will also stop her competing or taking part in training events.
Dujardin said what happened "was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse.
"I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment."
Dujardin said the video was "filmed four years ago" and she was "devastated to have let everyone down".
Who is Charlotte Dujardin?
Charlotte Dujardin, 39, won both team and individual gold medals at the London 2012 Games on her horse Valegro.
She then went on to win on the same horse at Rio four years later, winning an individual gold and team silver.
On a different horse named Gio she won two bronze medals at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
For the Paris Olympic Games she was set to compete once again in both the individual and the team dressage on her horse Imhotep, but withdrew after admitting she was the person in the video.
Had she competed and won a medal at the games she would have taken the lead as Britain's most successful female Olympian from now-retired cyclist Dame Laura Kenny.
Why do people whip horses?
Using whips is banned in international dressage competition, but they can be used in practice areas.
Riders and trainers say they use them to keep the horse alert and to ensure they keep concentration - they are not used to intentionally cause pain or distress.
Under British Equestrian's code of conduct, a whip must not be misused or used excessively while it also says the abuse of a horse "using natural riding aids or artificial aids (e.g. whips, spurs, etc.) will not be tolerated".
Chief executive of British Equestrian, Jim Eyre, said the welfare and ethical treatment of horses "has always been a priority".
World Horse Welfare say there is currently no scientific evidence that using a whip has a beneficial effect on any aspect of performance.