There are fresh claims British Olympian Charlotte Dujardin was sabotaged on the eve of the Paris Games after footage of her alleged animal abuse went public.
Earlier this week, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) suspended Dujardin, the joint most-decorated British female Olympian, after the video was released.
The vision, first released by Good Morning Britain, was taken four years ago and showed the 39-year-old beating a horse with a long whip during a training session with a young student.
“A video has emerged from four years ago which shows me making an error of judgement during a coaching session,” Dujardin said in a statement.
“Understandably, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports 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.”
Horse welfare charity Brooke dropped Dujardin as an ambassador, with the London International Horse Show following suit. Meanwhile, two of Dujardin’s sponsors confirmed they had ended their arrangements with her — riding helmets manufacturer Charles Owen and Fairfax Saddles.
However, former dressage correspondent at Horse & Hound magazine Madeline Hall has suggested the three-time gold medallist may have been sabotaged as mystery continues to swirl about the whistleblower’s identity.
“The timing of this video days before the Olympics smells of sabotage,” Hall told The Daily Mail.
“To me it is suspect.”
Dujardin was due to compete in both the individual dressage and the team event in Paris. She been replaced in the team by Becky Moody.
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NADAL’S FRESH INJURY SETBACK
Rafael Nadal has suffered a thigh injury to put his participation at the Paris Olympics in doubt, his coach Carlos Moya said on Thursday.
The 14-time French Open champion is scheduled to play in the singles and in the men’s doubles alongside rising star and fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros.
“He had some discomfort yesterday (Wednesday) morning,” Moya told Spanish radio.
“In the afternoon he was more limited and before it got worse he decided to stop.”
The 38-year-old Nadal did not train on Thursday, which Moya said was “the most responsible thing to do”.
“Don’t force it at the moment and see if he recovers well,” he added.
“We will see what condition he’s in tomorrow and Saturday.”
Nadal returned to tennis this year after a lengthy absence with a hip injury, reaching his first ATP final since winning the 2022 French Open in Bastad last weekend before losing to Portugal’s Nuno Borges.
He is scheduled to face Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in the singles first round on Sunday, the day after partnering Alcaraz in the doubles.
If Nadal defeats Fucsovics, he would set up a possible second-round meeting with old rival Novak Djokovic.
“I can’t guarantee anything, neither that he won’t play or he will play,” said Moya.
“At the moment he needs to rest, undergo treatment.
“He is obviously very excited to play these Olympics. It has been something marked on his calendar for years.
“He is a born competitor and wants to play singles and doubles. He’s very excited about the doubles with Alcaraz. It will be the first time they have played together and it will be something historic for Spanish tennis.”
Nadal is a two-time Olympic champion, having won singles gold in Beijing in 2008, and doubles gold at the 2016 Rio Games alongside Marc Lopez.
