Sir Lee Pearson, one of Great Britain’s most successful Paralympians, has been suspended by British Equestrian amid an ongoing investigation into his conduct.
Pearson, who has won 14 para-dressage gold medals in a stellar career spanning six Paralympic Games, was not named in Britain’s squad for this summer’s competition in Paris, which starts today.
The 50-year-old, who was knighted in 2017 (giving him the right to the title of Sir) for his sporting achievements and charity work and was Britain’s first openly gay Paralympic champion, had been dubbed the “godfather” of para dressage on the Paris 2024 website. He was also ParalympicsGB’s flag bearer for Rio 2016.
In a statement, British Equestrian told The Athletic: “British Equestrian and British Dressage are aware of concerns and allegations that have arisen around an individual within the dressage community.
“In accordance with our own procedures, the matter is under active investigation and the individual is suspended from both organisations while that investigation takes place. No further comment will be made at this time.”
Pearson (centre) has won 14 para-dressage gold medals (Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)
Pearson declined to comment when approached by The Athletic but in a statement posted on Facebook on July 4, he said he was not seeking selection for Paris 2024 after overcoming one of the “most traumatic hurdles” of his life because of a “group of truly horrendous people”. He added that the last 18 months have been “very tough” for him and his family “in more ways than you can imagine”.
“We have also been let down by numerous organisations whose safeguarding policies do nothing but protect their organisations and their jobs whilst causing so much pain and damage to people.
“I’m quite certain I will be aiming for the para championships over the next four years including the Los Angeles Paralympic Games 2028.”
News of Pearson’s suspension comes a month after Charlotte Dujardin, Britain’s joint-most decorated female Olympian, was suspended after a video emerged of her using a whip on a horse she was training.
Dujardin, who pulled out of the Paris Olympics before being suspended by equestrian’s governing body, the FEI, and British Equestrian and British Dressage, apologised for “making an error of judgement”.
The ParalympicsGB dressage team, who have dominated the discipline at previous Games, will compete on Tuesday without Pearson.
The quartet consists of Olympic champions Natasha Baker and Sophie Wells, who won team gold with Person at Tokyo 2020, as well as individual bronze medallist Georgia Wilson and debutant Mari Durward-Akhurst.
(Top photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)