Portugal Colonial - Former Olympic champion Dujardin makes dressage comeback after whipping ban

The British rider competed at the Hunters Equestrian event in Gloucestershire, in the west of England.

Dujardin, who has won six Olympic medals including individual gold in 2012 and 2016, was banned for a year in December by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI).

But she had been provisionally suspended since July 2024.

Dujardin is now free to compete in domestic events and does not need to seek permission from British Equestrian to do so, though she would need to seek its permission to compete internationally.

The 40-year-old won in two categories at the Hunters Equestrian on her new horse, Special Effect.

Dujardin was provisionally suspended last July after international governing body the FEI launched an investigation into a video showing her repeatedly striking a horse on its legs.

The footage, dating back several years, related to a training session at a stable and sparked widespread condemnation.

Dujardin, who was also fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($12,400), withdrew from the Paris Olympics just days before they started saying she had made an "error of judgement" and expressed deep remorse.

She could have become Britain's most decorated woman Olympian in the French capital, where a medal of any colour would have taken her clear of cyclist Laura Kenny, with whom she is tied on six medals.

Her two best horses, Imhotep and Times Kismet, have been sold since the scandal broke.

Times Kismet was sold to backers of Germany's quadruple Olympic gold medallist Jessica von Bredow-Werndl.

E.Paulino--PC