Whistleblower who complained about Team GB Olympian whipping horse explains why they did it
Warning: This article contains graphic images and video which some readers may find distressing.
The whistleblower who filed the complaint about the Team GB Olympian whipping a horse 'more than 24 times in one minute' has explained why they did it.
Footage of six-time Olympic medallist Charlotte Dujardin hitting a horse with a whip has been released amid her ban from the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
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The video, from four years ago, was played on Good Morning Britain this morning (24 July) and showed the horse being ridden by someone else, while Dujardin struck the animal.
Her suspension now bars Dujardin from any competitions or events under the International Federation for Equestrian Sports' jurisdiction and those run by a national federation.
The FEI said: “On 22 July, the FEI received a video depicting Ms Dujardin engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare.
“This video was submitted to the FEI by a lawyer representing an undisclosed complainant.”
The FEI has provisionally suspended the rider for six months with immediate effect.
In a statement, Dujardinm 39, said that 'what happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils'.
"I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment," she added.
Meanwhile, Stephan Wensing, the lawyer for the whistleblower, was the one who filed the complaint leading to her ban.
The dutch attorney explained to outlet Horses.nl that his anonymous client initially 'hesitated' about filing the complaint.
Though the determining factor was that the client decided they 'could not bring themselves to allow Dujardin to win medals at the Olympics'.
Wensing said: "It’s unacceptable that dressage sport should be accompanied by animal abuse.
“If top-level sport can only be performed in such a way that the welfare of the horse is compromised, then top-level sport should be abolished.
“Everyone who deals with horses has their own responsibility in this, and this also applies to bystanders who become aware of excesses.
“Equestrian sport must regulate itself and ensure that there can never be a discussion about horse welfare in sport again.
“This is a very important task for the jury members who have lost sight of the core value of dressage for far too long and have overvalued spastic movements of horses.
“It’s extremely sad that one of the most successful riders in the world has to pay the price.
“But this rider has also not taken any responsibility and this cannot go unpunished.
“The federations and in particular the FEI can be expected to take even more adequate action against animal abuse, precisely to ensure the continued existence of equestrian sports.”
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games is scheduled to take place from 26 July to 11 August.
Topics: Animals, Olympics, Sport, Charlotte Dujardin
Anish Vij