British equestrian great Dujardin out of Olympics after coaching video reveals possible horse abuse

FILE - Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin, riding Gio, competes in the equestrian dressage individual final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Tokyo. Three-time Olympic gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain has withdrawn from the Paris Games after a video emerged that she says shows her behaving inappropriately while coaching other riders. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

By JAKE SEINER

PARIS (AP) — Three-time Olympic gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin of Britain has withdrawn from the Paris Games after a video emerged that showed her “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare,” according to the sport’s governing body.

Dujardin said in a statement Tuesday that the video from four years ago “shows me making an error of judgment during a coaching session.” It wasn’t clear what video Dujardin referred to or what specifically the video shows.

“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 a statement on Instagram. “I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.

“I am sincerely sorry for my actions and devastated that I have let everyone down, including Team GB, fans and sponsors.”

The International Federation for Equestrian Sports, or FEI, said in a statement that it is investigating, and that Dujardin has been provisionally suspended from all events under the body’s jurisdiction, pending results of the probe. The British Equestrian Federation also has made Dujardin ineligible for national events.

The FEI said it received a video Monday from a lawyer representing “an undisclosed complainant” that was filmed during a training session at a private stable. The FEI said Dujardin has confirmed she was the individual shown in the video and requested her own provisional suspension.

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“The FEI condemns any conduct contrary to the welfare of horses and has robust rules in place to address such behavior,” the governing body said. “Our commitment to ensuring the highest standards of equine welfare and sportsmanship remains unwavering.”

The 39-year-old Dujardin won gold at the 2012 London Olympics in team and individual dressage and won another individual gold at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. She took bronze in team and individual at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and a silver in the team event in Rio. Her six medals are tied for the most by a female British Olympian.

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