Charlotte Dujardin has withdrawn from the Olympics after a video emerged of her “making an error of judgment” during a coaching session.
Dujardin, the three-time dressage champion who had hoped to become Britain’s most successful female Olympian, addressed the video – said to be four years old – in a statement and said she was ‘very sorry’ for her actions.
The 39-year-old is under investigation by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports and has withdrawn from all competition while enquiries are ongoing.
Dujardin said: “A video has emerged from four years ago which shows me making an error of judgment during a coaching session. Understandably, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) is investigating and I have made the decision to withdraw from all competition – including the Paris Olympics – while this process takes place.
“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. 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.
“I will cooperate fully with the FEI, British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage during their investigations, and will not be commenting further until the process is complete.”
It is not known at this stage what the video allegedly shows.
Tied with the retired Dame Laura Kenny on six medals, Dujardin was aiming to stand alone as Britain’s most decorated female Olympian.
“If I achieve that, it will be incredible,” Dujardin told Telegraph Sport ahead of the Olympics, before news of the investigation was made public.
“My dream was always just to get to the Olympics. I didn’t think there could be anything more special than that. Then in London, I thought this was not real: first Olympics, home crowd, double gold? Yeah, right.
“Now to think I could be at the very top, how surreal is that? I don’t see it as pressure, though. Like I always do, I just want to go out there and enjoy it. I mean, it’s not like every person gets to go to an Olympics.”
She won her last Olympic medal in the individual dressage competition in Tokyo three years ago and immediately looked forward to Paris.
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