Three-time Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin has been banned from competition by the FEI for a year after she ‘engaged in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare’.
Dujardin was provisionally suspended from competition and forced to withdraw from the Paris Olympics in July after a video emerged of her whipping a horse’s legs during a training session in an indoor arena.
The FEI announced the sanctions, which also include a fine of 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,886), today (Thursday 5 December). The time served during Dujardin’s provisional suspension, which was imposed on 23 July 2024, will be credited towards her one-year suspension.
The ban has also been reciprocated by British Equestrian and British Dressage which means Dujardin cannot compete in any national competition or training event until the end of her suspension in July 2025.
Timeline
The FEI received a video, submitted by a lawyer representing an undisclosed complainant, showing Dujardin repeatedly striking the legs of a horse with a whip, on 22 July 2024. The FEI immediately started an investigation and contacted both Dujardin and her national federation.
The next day Dujardin confirmed she was the person in the video, announced she would withdraw from the Paris Olympics, and agreed to be provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
“The FEI’s investigation, conducted with Dujardin’s full cooperation, concluded that Dujardin was the only person who had engaged in a rule violation in relation to the video. Additionally, the investigation found that aside from the conduct shown in the video, no other rule violations had occurred during, or in connection with, the training session,” said an FEI statement.
“Following the investigation, the FEI initiated formal disciplinary proceedings, citing three charges i) abuse of horse; ii) conduct that brings the FEI and/or equestrian sport and the FEI into disrepute; iii) breach of the FEI Code of Conduct on the Welfare of the Horse.
“Given the gravity of the offence and the relevant mitigating circumstances, including Dujardin’s prior clean disciplinary record and her voluntary withdrawal from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the FEI proposed a one-year suspension and a CHF 10,000 fine.”
The FEI said that they have not received any further complaints or reports of violations concerning Dujardin since the video emerged.
‘Send a clear message’
“It is regrettable that this case has put our sport in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, especially during a critical time leading up to the Olympic Games,” said Sabrina Ibáñez, FEI secretary general.
“Yet, despite the challenges, the FEI acted decisively by immediately opening an investigation and imposing a provisional suspension.
“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. We believe this outcome reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to equine welfare and to its role as guardian of our equine partners.”
