LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Charlotte Dujardin, a renowned equestrian who has clinched three Olympic gold medals, has been barred from participating in all equestrian competitions for a duration of one year. This suspension comes as a result of a horse-whipping controversy, which led to her withdrawal from the upcoming Paris Games scheduled for July.

The International Federation for Equestrian Sports initially imposed a provisional suspension on Dujardin on July 23. This decision followed the emergence of a video dating back four years, depicting her repeatedly using a whip on a horse while instructing another rider. The incident drew considerable attention, culminating in a formal complaint lodged with the FEI by a Dutch equine lawyer, Stephan Wensing, representing an unnamed client.

Dujardin’s suspension is retroactive to July 23 of this year, meaning she will not be eligible to compete until next July. The FEI has labeled her actions as “conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare,” in addition to the suspension, a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs (approximately $11,300) has also been imposed.

At 39 years old, Dujardin is celebrated for her impressive achievements, including winning gold medals in both team and individual dressage at the 2012 London Olympics. She also secured an individual gold at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, while her performances at the Tokyo Games in 2021 earned her bronze medals in both the team and individual categories, along with a team silver in Rio.