‘Sabotage’: Paris Olympics scandal takes wild twist

An extraordinary claim has emerged in the Paris Olympics equestrian scandal that has sparked global outrage.

The Paris Olympics equestrian scandal has taken a twist with suggestions Charlotte Dujardin was “sabotaged” on the eve of the Games.

Dujardin’s career was ripped into tatters on Wednesday (AEST) when ugly video of her alleged animal abuse spread across the globe.

The three-time gold medallist was stood down this week and said she was “ashamed” of her actions, insisting the footage did not reflect her behaviour throughout her eventing career.

However, those comments were met with scepticism - including by the lawyer representing a whistleblower who claimed his client had witnessed more occasions when Dujardin had committed similar acts depicted in the viral video.

The vision, first released by Good Morning Britain, was taken four years ago and allegedly showed the 39-year-old beating a horse with a long whip 24 times in one minute during a training session with a young student.

The timing of the leak and the identity of the whistleblower continues to be the subject of intrigue and it has now been claimed the release of the footage “smells of sabotage”.

Madeline Hall, former dressage correspondent at Horse & Hound magazine, has told the Daily Mail: “The timing of this video days before the Olympics smells of sabotage. To me it is suspect.”

Former editor of Horse and Hound Lucy Higginson earlier said: “It has profoundly shocked everybody in the equestrian world.”

Good morning Britain was the first to run the footage.

The identity of the whistleblower remains unknown. Photo: Good Morning Britain.

The horse was struck 24 times in one minute. Photo: Good Morning Britain.

The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) suspended Dujardin, the joint most-decorated British female Olympian, just days before the start of the Olympics.

“The FEI has officially announced the provisional suspension of British Dressage athlete Charlotte Dujardin effective immediately from the date of notification, 23 July 2024,” it said in a statement.

“This decision renders her ineligible to participate in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games or any other events under the jurisdiction of the FEI.”

The FEI said the video was submitted to it by an “undisclosed complainant”.

“According to the information received, the footage was allegedly taken several years ago during a training session conducted by Ms Dujardin at a private stable,” the organisation said.

The governing body said Dujardin had confirmed she was depicted in the video and had acknowledged that her conduct was “inappropriate”.

“Charlotte Dujardin requested to be provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the investigations and voluntarily withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and also confirmed that she will not participate in any competitions pending the outcome of the FEI’s investigation,” it said.

“The FEI condemns any conduct contrary to the welfare of horses and has robust rules in place to address such behaviour.”

Mystery continues to swirl about the whistleblower’s identity.

He told Good Morning Britain: “My client used to be a sponsor, and she was in the UK, and she sponsored a lesson for Charlotte to a student.

Silver medallist Germany’s Isabell Werth, gold medallist Germany’s Jessica von Bredow. Werndl and bronze medallist Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin. Photo by Behrouz MEHRI / AFP)

The pair got engaged for a second time in 2016. / AFP PHOTO / John MACDOUGALL

Dutch lawyer Stephan Wensing, who filed the complaint on the whistleblower’s behalf, this week spoke out.

“Everyone who deals with horses has their own responsibility in this, and this also applies to bystanders who become aware of excesses,” he said.

“Equestrian sport must regulate itself and ensure that there can never be a discussion about horse welfare in sport again.

“This is a very important task for the jury members who have lost sight of the core value of dressage for far too long and have overvalued spastic movements of horses.

“It’s extremely sad that one of the most successful riders in the world has to pay the price.

“But this rider has also not taken any responsibility and this cannot go unpunished.

“The federations and in particular the FEI can be expected to take even more adequate action against animal abuse, precisely to ensure the continued existence of equestrian sports.”

Wensing had previously compared the treatment of the horse to that of “an elephant in a circus”.

Among the blows to her career and post-career life, Dujardin has been stripped of her government funding and her chances of an expected Damehood have gone up in smoke.

Originally published as ‘Sabotage’: Paris Olympics scandal takes wild twist