OLYMPIC dressage gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) can now return to competition after serving her one-year ban from the sport.

Dujardin was banned in December 2024 by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and fined 10,000 Swiss francs (£8,886) after it found she had whipped a horse ‘excessively’.

Video footage of the incident emerged in July, just before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympics. It depicted her repeatedly striking the horse around its legs with a whip

The FEI’s formal disciplinary proceedings cited three charges: i) abuse of horse; ii) conduct that brings the FEI and/or equestrian sport and the FEI into disrepute; iii) breach of the FEI Code of Conduct on the welfare of the horse.

The international ban, which was backed by British Equestrian and British Dressage, ended on Thursday.

In a statement at the time of the decision, Dujardin apologised, saying that she fully respected the verdict, that her actions in the video “do not reflect” who she is and that she will “forever aim to do better”. She also announced that she was pregnant. “At the moment, the energy I have is focused on Dean and our daughter Isabella, and we are all very much looking forward to the arrival of our new family member,” she said.

“Anyone, regardless of their profile, who engages in conduct that compromises the welfare of the horse will face serious consequences,” said FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez in her statement following the findings of the case.

It is understood representatives of Dujardin have spoken with British Equestrian and British Dressage about her return to the sport in recent days.

Dujardin is not among the initial eight British entries put to the FEI to compete at August’s Dressage European Championships.