British dressage star Charlotte Dujardin withdrew from the Paris Olympics yesterday after a video emerged showing her making “an error of judgement” during a coaching session.
Dujardin, a three-time Olympic champion and joint most decorated British woman Olympian, said she had withdrawn from all competition while authorities investigated the incident.
“A video has emerged from four years ago which shows me making an error of judgement during a coaching session,” she said in a statement, days before the Games.
It was not immediately clear what the video showed.
“Understandably, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) is investigating and I have made the decision to withdraw from all competition - including the Paris Olympics - while this process 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. I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.”
Dujardin was eliminated from the European Championships in 2019 after blood was found on her horse, Mount St John Freestyle, in a post-competition check. The FEI said the action taken then did not imply there was any intent to injure the horse. Dujardin, 39, could have become Britain’s most decorated woman Olympian in Paris. A medal of any colour would have taken her clear of Laura Kenny, with whom she is currently tied on six medals.
“I will cooperate fully with the FEI, British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage during their investigations, and will not be commenting further until the process is complete,” she said.
Dujardin was due to compete in both the individual dressage and the team event alongside Carl Hester and world champion Lottie Fry at the Paris Games. She is expected to be replaced in the team by Becky Moody. Dujardin won individual and team golds at London 2012 while riding Valegro, with the pair retaining the individual title and winning silver in the team event at Rio 2016.
Olympic and equestrian authorities have taken an increasingly strict line against alleged improprieties relating to the treatment of animals in recent years.
During the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021, at which Dujardin won two bronze medals on Geo, a German modern pentathlon coach was thrown out for striking a horse. Authorities launched a review of the sport, resulting in the equestrian element being removed and replaced with an obstacle course in Los Angeles in 2028.The dressage competition at Paris 2024 begins on July 30 at the Chateau de Versailles.
