Sports
Charlotte Dujardin Provisional Suspension: Britain’s Olympian Withdraws from Competitions
Charlotte Dujardin, one of Britain’s most decorated female Olympians, has been provisionally suspended by the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sports. The suspension comes in the wake of a video that has raised concerns about horse welfare practices, prompting Dujardin to withdraw from all competitions, including Paris 2024.
The FEI received footage showing the three-time Olympic gold medalist “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare during a training session at Ms. Dujardin’s private stable.” A legal representative for the claimant who filed the complaint to the FEI stated that the video depicts Dujardin “beating a horse excessively with a whip.” This incident reportedly occurred several years ago.
In a letter accompanying the complaint, the claimant’s lawyer acknowledged the potential consequences of the complaint for Dujardin, including disciplinary action. “My client had to think long and hard about whether to bring this to your attention this way,” the lawyer wrote.
Dujardin, who confirmed she is the individual in the video, has expressed deep regret over her actions. “What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils,” she stated. “However, there is no excuse. I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.”
The FEI initially announced a six-month suspension, but it later clarified that the ban would remain in place pending the outcome of the investigation and any subsequent disciplinary proceedings. Dujardin has decided to “withdraw from all competition while this process takes place.”
Both British Equestrian (BEF) and British Dressage (BD) have also imposed provisional suspensions on Dujardin while the FEI investigation is ongoing. FEI President Ingmar De Vos emphasized the importance of addressing any instances of abuse, stating, “It is our responsibility and crucial that we address any instances of abuse, as equine welfare cannot be compromised.”
Roly Owers, chief executive of World Horse Welfare, stressed the significance of maintaining public trust in equestrian sports. “We know that a successful future for horse sport has public trust at the centre of it,” Owers said. “If that trust is damaged, it will damage the sport. This is another massive wake-up call for anyone who thinks this is not important, because it most certainly is.”
The FEI has stated that it intends to proceed with its investigation as swiftly as possible. As the situation unfolds, Dujardin’s career, marked by six Olympic medals, remains in a state of uncertainty as she awaits the investigation’s outcome
Manchester City surged to the top of the Premier League table with a crucial victory at Turf Moor, a result that also confirmed Burnley’s relegation to the Championship.
Manager Pep Guardiola has seen his side hit peak form at a decisive stage of the season, overturning a nine-point gap on Arsenal in less than two weeks. An 11-game unbeaten run has propelled City to the summit with just five matches remaining.
Top scorer Erling Haaland set the tone early, opening the scoring after just five minutes with a composed finish over goalkeeper Martin Dubravka following a precise assist from Jeremy Doku. Haaland later struck the post as City pushed for a second goal.
Despite their dominance, City were unable to fully capitalise on their chances. Rayan Cherki came close with a powerful effort that Dubravka tipped onto the crossbar, while Nico O’Reilly saw his header saved and Rayan Ait-Nouri fired over after a slick team move.
Burnley, managed by Scott Parker, created opportunities of their own. Jaidon Anthony tested Gianluigi Donnarumma with a curling effort, while Zian Flemming missed from a promising position.
However, the defeat seals Burnley’s fate, confirming their return to the Championship for the second time in three years. The result also strengthens City’s title charge, with momentum firmly on their side as the season enters its final stretch.
Former world champion Regis Prograis has officially announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 37, following a decisive defeat to Conor Benn on Saturday night.
The bout, held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, marked the end of Prograis’ distinguished career, with the American revealing afterward that he had already made the decision to retire well before stepping into the ring.
Speaking to Ring Magazine, Prograis disclosed that the fight had long been planned as his farewell appearance. “Going in, I knew I was going to retire. This is my last fight. I knew this months ago – I just didn’t tell anybody but I was terrified going into this,” he said.
Despite the loss, Prograis reflected positively on his final outing, highlighting the scale of the event and the calibre of his opponent. Facing Benn in front of a crowd of around 70,000 provided what he described as the perfect stage to conclude his career. “It’s a great fight to be my last against someone like Conor Benn, someone that was strong – an arena like this with 70,000 in a stadium. I couldn’t ask for a better going away party, perfect end to my story,” he added.
In a candid admission, Prograis also confirmed pre-fight concerns about his physical condition. Reports suggesting he had been dealing with an injury were accurate, he said, revealing that he had seriously considered withdrawing from the contest as recently as 24 hours before fight night.
“The rumours about me being hurt were true. I wanted to pull out of this fight so bad a month ago but kept pushing. I was terrified and thinking about pulling out even yesterday,” Prograis explained.
The former two-time super-lightweight world champion retires with a professional record of 30 wins and four losses, including 24 victories by knockout. Over the course of his career, he captured the WBA super-lightweight title in 2019 and later added the WBC version of the belt, cementing his place among the division’s elite fighters.
Liverpool FC secured an important Premier League victory over Fulham FC, with goals from Mohamed Salah and rising talent Rio Ngumoha sealing the win.
Salah once again proved decisive, continuing his consistent attacking output with a key contribution that helped set the tone for Liverpool’s performance. The Egyptian forward remains central to Liverpool’s title ambitions, delivering when it matters most.
Ngumoha, meanwhile, added further gloss to the result, underlining his growing reputation with a composed finish. His contribution highlights Liverpool’s ability to blend experience with emerging youth talent.
The victory strengthens Liverpool’s position in the Premier League standings as they maintain pressure in the race at the top, while Fulham are left to regroup after a difficult outing.
Overall, it was a controlled and efficient performance from Liverpool, with both established stars and new faces stepping up at a crucial stage of the season.
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