PARIS– Three-time Olympic gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain has withdrawn from the Paris Games after a video emerged that showed her “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare,” according to the sport’s governing body.
Dujardin said in a statement Tuesday that the four-year-old video “shows me making an error in judgment during a coaching session.” It was unclear what video Dujardin was referring to or what specifically the video shows.
“What happened was completely strange and does not reflect how I train my horses or train my students; however, there is no excuse,” Dujardin said in a statement on Instagram. “I am deeply embarrassed and should have set a better example at that time.
“I am sincerely sorry for my actions and am devastated to have let everyone down, including Team GB, fans and sponsors.”
The International Federation of Equestrian Sports, or FEI, said in a statement that it is investigating and that Dujardin has been provisionally suspended from all events under the body’s jurisdiction, pending the results of the investigation. The British Equestrian Federation also made Dujardin ineligible for national events.
The FEI said it received a video on Monday from a lawyer representing “an undisclosed claimant”, which was filmed during a training session in a private stable. The FEI said Dujardin confirmed she was the person shown in the video and requested her own provisional suspension.
“The FEI condemns any conduct contrary to the welfare of horses and has robust rules to deal with such behavior,” the governing body said. “Our commitment to ensuring the highest standards of equine welfare and sportsmanship remains unwavering.”
Dujardin, 39, won gold at the 2012 London Olympics in team and individual dressage and won another individual gold at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. She won team and individual bronze at the 2021 Tokyo Games and silver in the team event in Rio. Her six medals are tied for the most by a British Olympian.
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