British dressage rocked again as top rider Lee Pearson suspended over misconduct claims

British Equestrian has been rocked by fresh allegations of misconduct after suspending Sir Lee Pearson following his non-selection for the Paralympics.

Pearson, Britain’s third-most successful Paralympian, is being investigated by the governing body over allegations about his behaviour after he failed to make the cut for the British team.

The 50-year-old, who won 14 golds between 2000 and 2021, a tally bettered only by cyclist Dame Sarah Storey and swimmer Mike Kenny, has enjoyed a stellar career and is a household name in para-dressage.

The news comes amid a torrid time for British equestrianism after Charlotte Dujardin, Britain’s joint-most successful Olympian, was suspended on the eve of the Paris Olympics last month after footage emerged of her whipping a horse in training.

The clip sparked global outrage and forced Dujardin, who needed one more medal to overtake Dame Laura Kenny and become Britain’s most successful Olympian of all time, to withdraw from the Games. Her career was left in tatters after she was subsequently suspended by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), dropped as an ambassador by an equine charity and stripped of her UK Sport funding.

Pearson and his legal team were not available for comment but a source close to him has denied that the suspension had anything to do with the mistreatment of horses.

Pearson, who was ParalympicsGB’s flagbearer at the Rio 2016 Games and knighted in 2017 for his sporting achievements and charity work, has not competed since March 2023.

He was Britain’s first openly gay Paralympian when he came out aged 20 before winning three golds at his debut Games in Sydney 2000 to become an illustrious name in the sport.

Pearson is yet to comment on the allegations but has signalled on social media his intent to compete at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

“British Equestrian and British Dressage are aware of concerns and allegations that have arisen around an individual within the dressage community,” British Equestrian said in a statement.

“In accordance with our own procedures, the matter is under active investigation and the individual is suspended from both organisations while that investigation takes place. No further comment will be made at this time.”

ParalympicsGB last month named an all-female dressage team of Natasha Baker, Mari Durward-Akhurst, Sophie Wells and Georgia Wilson for the Paris Games, where equestrian events are scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

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