Above left, Charlotte Dujardin, CBE. Above right, Sabrina Ibáñez, Secretary General of the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI).
It happens to be the case that due to it’s US location the BG website as a US website receives for US based visitors than UK based visitors. Therefore the majority of our readers will be very well acquainted with the term that forms today’s title.
For the initiated “Brits”, the Mirriam Webster dictionary defines the term as “underhanded or unsportsmanlike conduct” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dirty%20pool).
Earlier this year on 24th July, we commented upon the unfortunate experience of the British equestrian and Olympian Charlotte Dujardin, CBE (https://british-gazette.com/hung-out-to-dry/).
This because a Dutch person – who seeks to remain anonymous – reported Charlotte’s conduct presumably in the hope of achieving what they achieved – removing a serious competitor from the Olympics in order to increase the medal chances of the Dutch team. Their strategy was successful!
Today, the BBC’s website (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/equestrian/articles/cy89n7343zdo) reports that Charlotte has been “banned for one year and fined 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,886) for ‘excessively’ whipping a horse.” The Beeb goes on; “Video footage emerged in July – just days before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympics – of the 39-year-old repeatedly striking the horse with a long whip around its legs.” And: [Charlotte] “Dujardin’s international ban, handed out by the FEI – the world governing body of equestrian sports – is backdated to the start of her provisional suspension and she will be eligible to compete again from July 2025”….
British Gazette comment: We are not going to republish Charlotte’s statement in relation to the unfortunate incident as we do not believe in rubbing salt into any wound. However the FACT of the matter is that Charlotte’s statements in mitigation have been successful in reducing the penalty that has been imposed on her. This because by the standards of fines levied on prominent sportspersons 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,886) is getting off lightly! This because a high profile sportsperson will tend to be heavily fined. This because such international sporting bodies such as the Fédération Équestre Internationale have a tendency to virtue signal. This because they cannot afford to annoy or upset the powerful such as politicians who have a handle on their purse strings!
This is NOT a new phenomenon. It is as old as civilisation itself!
It may interest readers to note that Sabrina Ibáñez is a Swiss national of Salvadorian (El Salvador) and Austrian descent. She is fluent in English, French, and Spanish and has two adult sons (https://internationalsportsconvention.com/speakers/sabrina-ibanez/).
The Humane Society International have a website that gives information on animal cruelty in Latin America: https://www.hsi.org/news-resources/handling-animal-cruelty-071417/
Dressage as a sport is not like athletics. The Games of the XXXIV Olympiad will take place in Los Angeles, California between July 14, 2028 and July 30, 2028.
The day before the start Charlotte will celebrate her forty third birthday. Had her medals been won in the 100 metres sprint there is no way a forty three year old woman could still enter. However dressage is different. Charlotte will still be able to compete – other things being equal. Thus she has a good chance of taking the top of the UK’s Olympic medal tally from Dame Laura Kenny, DBE.