British dressage star out of Olympics, suspended for violating horse welfare

PARIS — Days before Opening Ceremonies, the Paris Olympics have their first scandal in bizarre form: A decorated British dressage star withdrew from the Games shortly before the international equestrian governing body provisionally suspended her for “conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare” depicted on video.

Charlotte Dujardin, whose six Olympic medals tie her for most ever among Great Britain women, announced the emergence of a video that shows her committing a self-described “error in judgment at a coaching session” four years ago. The Times of London reported the video showed Dujardin whipping a horse in the legs.

“What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils,” Dujardin wrote. “However, there is no excuse. I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example at that moment.”

The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) received a video Monday depicting Dujardin engaging in alleged horse abuse, FEI said in a statement. The federation gave Dujardin a deadline of 5 p.m. Tuesday to respond to the video. Dujardin admitted it was her and released her statement before any distress surfaced publicly. She is barred from competing until the FEI completes an investigation, knocking her out of what would have been her fourth Olympics.

“We are deeply disappointed with this case, especially as we approach the Olympic Games in Paris 2024,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “However, it is our responsibility and crucial that we address any instances of abuse, as equine welfare cannot be compromised.”

What happened remained unclear for several hours Tuesday evening. Dujardin offered no details of the video’s content. Shortly after Dujardin posted her statement, a Great Britain press officer said its Olympic governing body did not know what the video showed.

Dujardin, 39, gained prominence in England by winning two gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics while riding her horse Valegro. Her hometown of Enfield installed a gold mail box in her honor. She won two bronze medals in Tokyo on a different horse, Gio, after retiring Valegro at age 14.

Animal abuse allegations have stained other Olympic equestrian events. At the Tokyo Games, video showed German modern pentathlon coach Kim Raisner punching a horse. Dujardin is not even the first dressage competitor to lose an Olympic spot this month: Carina Cassøe Kruth was taken off the Danish dressage team earlier this month after an old video of her allegedly abusing a horse surfaced, according to industry publication Horse Sport.