DIRSGRACED Olympic dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin was back in action last weekend after serving her one-year suspension for whipping a horse.
The 40-year-old was slapped with the punishment after footage emerged of her cruelling WHIPPING a horse during a training session last July.
APCharlotte Dujardin returned to action for the first time since being hit with a one-year suspension[/caption]
ITVDujardin was slapped with the punishment after footage emerged of her whipping a horse[/caption]
She was provisionally suspended while the FEI launched an investigation, which concluded with the sanctioning body handing her a backdated one-year ban last December.
Dujardin’s period of ineligibility ended on July 23, and she was back in competitive action at the Hunters Equestrian event in Gloucestershire this past weekend.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist, who was riding a new horse, was victorious in two categories.
It’s unknown when Dujardin intends to compete next, although she is now eligible to participate in domestic events without the consent of the British Equestrian Federation.
Dujardin, Britain’s joint-most decorated female Olympian, withdrew from the Paris 2024 games before footage of her whipping her horse went viral.
She issued a grovelling apology after the footage went public and accepted the error of her ways after being suspended last December.
She said: “I fully respect the verdict issued by the Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), released today.
As the federation has recognised, my actions in the video do not reflect who I am and I can only apologise again.
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PACharlotte Dujardin apologised profusely for her actions[/caption]
“I understand the responsibility that comes with my position in the sport, and I will forever aim to do better.
“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.”
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