Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin banned for excessive whipping

One of Britain’s most decorated Olympians has been banned and fined after shocking training footage emerged.

Olympic dressage great Charlotte Dujardin has been handed a one-year ban over footage of her repeatedly whipping a horse in training.

The footage first came to light in July this year, just days before the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

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The 39-year-old Englishwoman was subsequently forced to withdraw from those Games and claimed the act was “completely out of character” and an “error of judgement”.

Dujardin added the incident, which involved a long whip being used repeatedly during a private training session believed to have occurred in 2022, “does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils”.

Watch footage of the incident in the video player above

Olympian Charlotte Dujardin competing and (right) whipping the horse. Photos: AFP/X

Provisionally suspended in July by the International Federation for Equestrian (FEI) Sports, the governing body launched an investigation which has resulted in a 12-month ban and a $17,500 fine.

The ban is backdated to the time of the original suspension, meaning Dujardin will be eligible to return to competition in July next year.

“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,” FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibanez said in a statement.

“We believe this outcome reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to equine welfare and to its role as guardian of our equine partners.”

Dujardin reacts after competing at the Tokyo Olympic Games. (Photo by Behrouz MEHRI/AFP)

Dujardin competed at the 2012, 2016 and 2021 Olympics, picking up three gold medals, a silver and two bronze in her Games career.

The Londoner’s six total medals are the equal most ever by a British woman, equalling track cyclist Dame Laura Kenny’s haul of five golds and a silver, achieved over the same three Olympic stretch.

Dujardin was hit with three charges, abuse of a horse, conduct that brings the FEI and/or equestrian sport and the FEI into disrepute and breach of the FEI code of conduct on the welfare of a horse.

The FEI stated the training footage didn’t contain any other violations and added no further complaints had been made against the dressage star since the video came to light.

Reflecting on the timing of the video, Ibanez said: “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.”

Dujardin kissing her fiance Dean Golding after winning gold at the 2016 Rio Games. (AFP PHOTO/John MACDOUGALL)

The British Equestrian and British Dressage associations have also recognised the ban, meaning Dujardin can’t compete in any national competitions or training events during the suspension.

“We will continue to work with our member bodies tirelessly to uphold the integrity of our sports through enforcement, education, and advancement in our knowledge,” Jim Eyre, chief executive of British Equestrian, said.

“Working closely with our colleagues across the federation, we will continue to collectively put the health, care and wellbeing of the horse at the heart of everything we do and proactively demonstrate that equestrian sport is conducted in an ethical and responsible way.”

There was a strong reaction to the news on social media.

Sports fan Gavin Wilson posted the video on X and wrote: “That’s not an error of judgement, that’s habitual. F**k Charlotte Dujardin. I hope her career and reputation is in the bin forever.”

Dujardin is a three-time Olympian.

Rabb Nawaz stated: “Guess winning gold doesn’t include lessons on basic decency.”

Animal rights group T4 Animals tweeted: “Charlotte Dujardin should be truly ashamed of herself! This is not an error of judgment this is systematic abuse. And the lawyers client said this was standard practice at Dujardins training sessions.”

A few people also defended Dujardin on X.

“I don’t condone any part of this, but I am really struggling to understand what the difference is between this and all the jockeys who routinely use a whip in the race to the finish line at the Grand National or Royal Ascot,” wrote Douglas Scott.

An account called UK Patriot offered: “I guess anyone watching Dressage has to ask themselves … how DO they get these horses to dance so splendidly? By asking nicely and sugar cubes? Wake up.”