Charlotte Dujardin Receives One-Year Ban for Horse Whipping Incident

Three-time Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin has been handed a one-year international ban and fined 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,886) by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) after a video surfaced showing her “excessively” whipping a horse during a training session.

The incident, captured in July, just days before the Paris 2024 Olympics, showed the 39-year-old striking the horse with a long whip around its legs. The FEI deemed her actions a violation of horse welfare principles, prompting a provisional suspension on July 23, which now forms part of her official ban. She will be eligible to compete again from July 2025.

Both British Equestrian and British Dressage have supported the FEI’s decision, extending the suspension to prevent Dujardin from participating in national competitions or training events during the same period.

In a public statement, Dujardin expressed her remorse, acknowledging the impact of her actions:

“I fully respect the verdict issued by the Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI)… My actions in the video do not reflect who I am, and I can only apologise again. I understand the responsibility that comes with my position in the sport, and I will forever aim to do better.”

Dujardin described the episode as one of the most challenging periods of her life, thanking supporters who stood by her.

The FEI clarified that the footage did not reveal additional rule violations, nor have there been further complaints about her conduct since the incident.

The ban affects Dujardin’s eligibility for UK Sport public funding, with her access to financial benefits suspended during the ban. Future funding will be reassessed following the sanction.