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Charlotte Dujardin out after video surfaces

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4 months ago

July 25, 2024

Charlotte Dujardin out after video surfaces

PARIS – One of the vital embellished members of the Nice Britain Olympic delegation has withdrawn from the 2024 Paris Olympics following an equine-abuse investigation.

Equestrian athlete Charlotte Dujardin, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in dressage, introduced the information Tuesday after a video she mentioned was from 4 years in the past surfaced and confirmed her performing “fully out of character.” The Worldwide Federation for Equestrian Sports activities (FEI) investigation resulted in a six-month suspension, the physique introduced.

The FEI mentioned it acquired a video Tuesday “depicting Ms. Dujardin partaking in conduct opposite to the rules of horse welfare.” A lawyer representing the unidentified 19-year previous complainant despatched the video to the FEI and informed The Guardian that the incident passed off a number of years in the past throughout a coaching session at a non-public facility.

“Charlotte Dujardin was in the midst of the sector,” the legal professional, Stephan Wensing, informed the UK-based publication. “She mentioned to the coed: ‘Your horse should carry up the legs extra within the canter.’ She took the lengthy whip and she or he was beating the horse greater than 24 occasions in a single minute. It was like an elephant within the circus.”

Wensing mentioned he acquired the go-ahead to file the criticism after his shopper noticed suspensions of different dressage trainers around the globe over abuse allegations. One of many extra outstanding circumstances concerned American Cesar Parra, who was born in Colombia and competed within the 2004 Video games. Parra was provisionally suspended in February after social media movies went viral that confirmed abusive coaching strategies together with whipping horses.

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“At the moment, my shopper was considering this have to be regular,” Wensing mentioned. “She is an Olympic winner. Who am I to doubt? My shopper requested round and was warned in opposition to talking out within the UK. However final 12 months my shopper noticed others suspended within the UK and elsewhere. And this weekend, she finally decided to let me admit the criticism to the FEI and that occurred yesterday. The FEI took this instantly very significantly.”

Dujardin technically withdrew earlier than the FEI might impose its penalty.

In her assertion, Dujardin mentioned the incident “doesn’t mirror how I prepare my horses or coach my pupils, nonetheless there is no such thing as a excuse. I’m deeply ashamed and may have set a greater instance in that second.

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“I’m sincerely sorry for my actions and devastated that I’ve let everybody down, together with Crew GB, followers and sponsors.”

Dujardin gained particular person and workforce dressage gold medals on the 2012 London Video games and repeated her particular person title 4 years later in Rio. She took bronze in each the person and workforce occasions at Tokyo three years in the past.

Dujardin cooperated with the FEI’s investigation, the FEI mentioned. She additionally confirmed that she is not going to take part in any competitions pending the end result of the FEI’s investigation.

“We’re deeply dissatisfied with this case, particularly as we method the Olympic Video games in Paris 2024,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos mentioned within the assertion. “Nonetheless, it’s our duty and essential that we handle any cases of abuse, as equine welfare can’t be compromised.”

Contributing: Dan Wolken