Charlotte Dujardin was eliminated from major event after blood found on horse

Charlotte Dujardin was previously eliminated from a major event after blood was found on her horse years before her shock withdrawal from the 2024 Olympic Games. On Tuesday, the "deeply ashamed" three-time Olympic champion announced that she would no longer be competing for Team GB in Paris.

Dujardin is one of Britain's most decorated Olympians and was aiming for the seventh dressage medal of her illustrious career this summer.

But she has admitted that she is under investigation by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) due to the emergence of a video from a "coaching session" in which she made an "error of judgement."

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"A video has emerged from four years ago which shows me making an error of judgement during a coaching session," Dujardin wrote on her Instagram.

"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's not the first instance where Dujardin has been forced to withdraw from an event over controversy surrounding her horse.

In August 2019, the 39-year-old was disqualified from the European Championships after blood was found on her mare Mount St. John Freestyle's flank during a dressage test.

Under FEI rules, horses must be free of blood over the entire body and in the mouth before, during and after events at every level.

An FEI spokesperson said: "Blood was found on the left flank of the horse in the post-competition check. In accordance with article 430.7.6.2 of the FEI dressage rules, this results in elimination.

"Elimination under this rule does not imply there was any intent to injure the horse, but the rules are in place to protect the welfare of all competing horses."

Dujardin's disqualification chalked off her personal-best dressage score of 81.91 per cent at the European Championships, dropping her team from the silver medal position to fourth.

She had previously competed in FEI events 14 times, winning 12 of them, with Mount St. John Freestyle, who was the world No. 40 among FEI dressage horses.