Charlotte Dujardin, British dressage rider and the country’s most successful Olympian, will not take part in the games in Paris. The reason: a video in which she is seen beating a horse with a whip.
Three-time Olympic dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin from Great Britain has admitted misconduct in training and will not compete in the Olympic Games in Paris.
The world association FEI announced that Dujardin had been provisionally suspended. The 39-year-old had asked for this herself pending investigations into a video. The video shows Dujardin acting against the welfare of a horse. She herself admitted that her behavior had been inappropriate.
Biggest competitor for German dressage riders at the Olympics is gone
The FEI initially announced that Dujardin had been suspended for six months and later clarified that this measure would apply indefinitely, depending on the investigation. This means that one of the biggest competitors of the German dressage team led by Jessica von Bredow-Werndl will be missing from the Olympics in Paris.
Dujardin announced on social media that the four-year-old video shows her making a wrong decision during a training session. She has decided to withdraw from all competitions for the time being – including the Olympic Games in Paris, she wrote.
“What happened was not my style at all and does not reflect how I train my horses or teach my students, but there is no excuse,” the statement said. “I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in the moment.”
Dujardin did not describe what can be seen in the video. “I sincerely apologize for my behavior,” she said in her statement. She was distraught that she had disappointed everyone, including her British team, fans and sponsors.
Charlotte Dujardin wants to cooperate with investigation
She will fully cooperate with the FEI and the British federations and will not comment further until the proceedings are completed.
FEI President Ingmar De Vos said she was “deeply disappointed” about the case. The welfare of the horses must not be compromised. Dujardin has shown sincere remorse.
Instead of the individual Olympic champion of the 2012 Games in London and 2016 in Rio, Becky Moody with Jagerbomb could now take her place, although she has been riding much weaker so far.
Source: Stern
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