British Olympian Charlotte Dujardin has been provisionally suspended for six months by equestrian’s governing body the FEI.
The dressage star, who is Britain’s joint-most decorated female Olympian, had already pulled out of Paris 2024 after a video emerged of her making an “error of judgement”.
The FEI said it had recieved footage of the three-time gold medalist “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare – during a training session conducted at Ms Durjardin’s private stable”.
They said the 39-year-old confirmed it was her in the video “filmed several years ago” and “requested to be provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the investigations”.
Though the six-month ban remains provisional while the FEI investigates, Dujardin said she will “withdraw from all competition while the investigation takes place”.
“What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse,” Dujardin said in statement.
“I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.”
The equestrian rider has won three gold medals across London 2012 and Rio 2016, and needed one more medal at the Paris Games to become the female British athlete with the most medals.
She is currently tied with retired cyclist Laura Kenny on six medals having also won silver at Rio before two bronzes at Tokyo 2020.
