The Fédération Equestre Internationale has suspended British Olympic dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin for one year and fined her $11,321 (10,000 Swiss francs) in response to a video released last year which showed her whipping a horse around its legs more than 20 times during a training session. The FEI Tribunal decision, released today, concludes its investigation and disciplinary proceedings against the prominent rider.
Dujardin has been provisionally suspended since July 23, a day after the FEI received the video of her behavior during a training session she was conducting at a private stable, for “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare,” the FEI said in a statement announcing its decision. The time served during her provisional suspension will be credited towards her one-year suspension, meaning she will be eligible to compete again on July 23, 2025.
During her suspension, Dujardin is prohibited from participating in all activities related to competitions or events under the jurisdiction of the FEI or of a national federation. British Equestrian and British Dressage have reciprocated the FEI suspension, resulting in Dujardin’s ineligibility to compete in any training events during this period.
Dujardin issued a statement today on her social media channels saying she respects the FEI’s decision.
“As the federation has recognised, 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,” she wrote. “This has undoubtedly been one of the darkest and most difficult periods of my life, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me during this time. To those of you who have sent messages, emails and tried to reach me to check in on how l am—thank you. Every kind word truly has made a difference, more than you’ll ever know.”
Dutch attorney Stephan Wensing, who submitted the video to the FEI and represents the anonymous person who reported Dujardin, said his client was pleased with the outcome.
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“My client is very happy that the FEI has taken this so seriously and this is a good message for the whole dressage world,” Wensing told the BBC. “She is also happy that Charlotte Dujardin has taken this seriously, and has taken responsibility and accepted her punishment.”
The FEI began its investigation immediately after receiving the video July 22. Dujardin confirmed to the FEI that she was the person in the video, and on July 23 she announced she was withdrawing from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, after being selected to the British team with Imhotep, and she accepted a provisional suspension.
“The FEI’s investigation, conducted with Dujardin’s full cooperation, concluded that Dujardin was the only person who had engaged in a rule violation in relation to the video,” said the FEI statement. “Additionally, the investigation found that aside from the conduct shown in the video, no other rule violations had occurred during, or in connection with, the training session.
“Since the video’s release, the FEI has not received any additional complaints or reports of violations concerning Dujardin’s conduct,” it continued.
The FEI charged Dujardin with abuse of horse, conduct that brings the FEI and/or equestrian sport and the FEI into disrepute, and breach of the FEI Code of Conduct on the Welfare of the Horse. It then used its discretion to propose sanctions that were within the range set by its rules.
“Given the gravity of the offense and the relevant mitigating circumstances, including Dujardin’s prior clean disciplinary record and her voluntary withdrawal from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the FEI proposed a one-year suspension and the fine,” its statement read.
“These significant sanctions send a clear message that anyone, regardless of their profile, who engages in conduct that compromises the welfare of the horse will face serious consequences. We believe this outcome reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to equine welfare and to its role as guardian of our equine partners.”
Sabrina Ibáñez, FEI secretary generalADVERTISEMENT
The full decision of the FEI Tribunal, formally confirming the sanctions set out in the agreement, was released today and is available here. Dujardin’s acceptance of the proposed sanctions renders this decision final and not subject to appeal, the decision notes.
The decision also notes that the length of suspension and fine were chosen in consideration of the video being an isolated incident: “Should the circumstances, under which the present proposal/acceptance of sanctions change, the FEI shall then open new proceedings against [Dujardin], and any other allegation or incident not considered would also then need to be investigated independently.”
FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez commented in the FEI release.
“It is regrettable that this case has put our sport in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, especially during a critical time leading up to the Olympic Games,” she said. “Yet, despite the challenges, the FEI acted decisively by immediately opening an investigation and imposing a provisional suspension.
“These significant sanctions send a clear message that anyone, regardless of their profile, who engages in conduct that compromises the welfare of the horse will face serious consequences,” she continued. “We believe this outcome reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to equine welfare and to its role as guardian of our equine partners.”
In Dujardin’s statement, the rider also announced that she and her partner Dean Wyatt-Golding are expecting their second child, due in February. “At the moment, the energy I have is focused on Dean and our daughter Isabella, and we are all very much looking forward to the arrival of our new family member,” she wrote.
