Olympic great quits in shame

Dujardin is accused of whipping horse 'like elephant in circus'

- Robert Kellaway

BRITISH Olympic golden girl Charlotte Dujardin sensationally quit Team GB yesterday after a video emerged of her reportedly whipping a horse "like an elephant in the circus".

The six-time Olympic medallist in equestrian dressage said she'd made "an error of judgment" while coaching and was "deeply ashamed".

As Britain's joint most decorated female Olympian, she was among contenders to be Team GB's flag bearer at Friday's opening ceremony in Paris. If she'd won a medal she would have become the most decorated, above cyclist Dame Laura Kenny.

Last night her sport's governing body, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), confirmed it had received the footage. It has provisionally suspended Dujardin, 39, for six months while it investigates.