The German modern pentathlon coach who punched a horse at the Olympic Games and encouraged a rider to do likewise has been ordered to attend a course on the humane treatment of animals by the sport's governing body UIPM.
Kim Raisner was barred from the remainder of the Games after she hit a horse named Saint Boy with her fist and urged rider Annika Schleu to "really hit" the horse when it refused to jump in the women's show jumping section.
Schleu had been in the gold medal position before the incident but ultimately finished 31st.
Modern pentathletes, who compete in five different sports for a medal, do not use their own horses for the show jumping discipline, but instead draw one at random and are given 20 minutes to warm up with it before competing.
Ireland's Natalya Coyle also saw her medal chances disappear after her horse refused to jump.
A UIPM disciplinary panel upheld the decision to remove Raisner from the rest of the action in Tokyo and warned that "any repeat of her behaviour" could result in the loss of her coaching credentials.
It recognised that Raisner's previous "exemplary" record made her actions "an anomaly" but said they had been "shocking to this panel and indeed the world" and ordered her to attend an education seminar on the humane treatment of animals before being allowed to resume coaching at UIPM-sanctioned events.
Schleu was found not guilty of excessive use of the whip and spurs.
The UIPM statement said: "The Panel found that Kim Raisner, representing Germany as a coach, violated the UIPM competition rules (Rule 4.6.8) by striking a horse and encouraging her athlete to do the same.
"The Panel upheld the decision of the UIPM Executive Board on August 7 to exclude Ms Raisner from the remainder of the Olympic Games competition.
"The Panel issued an official reprimand to Ms Raisner and a warning that any repeat of her behaviour could result in the removal of her UIPM Coaches Certification Programme (CCP) credentials and permission to coach at UIPM-sanctioned competitions.
"The Panel ordered Ms Raisner to attend a coach education seminar at the appropriate level containing a Humane Treatment of Animals module at the earliest opportunity and prior to her participation in any UIPM-sanctioned competition."
"The Panel recognizes Ms Raisner's personal contributions over many years to the sport of Modern Pentathlon, both as an elite level athlete and national coach. Her athletic and professional record is one of exemplary behaviour, making the events of August 6 stand out as an anomaly.
"That said, Ms Raisner did in fact violate the UIPM competition rules, specifically rule 4.6.8 and her behaviour, that of striking the horse, Saint Boy, and encouraging her athlete to do the same, regardless of the reason, was shocking to this Panel and indeed the world. Ms Raisner’s egregious behaviour cannot go unpunished.
"The UIPM is committed to the humane treatment of animals and athletes alike and condemns any acts of cruelty and/or abuse to either. Inhumane treatment of animals in any form will not be tolerated, nor will cruelty, bullying or harassment against our athletes and coaches.
"The Panel encourages the newly empowered UIPM Riding Working Group to labour diligently towards modifying our rules in the new competition format for Paris 2024 to safeguard and ensure the health, safety and humane treatment of our animals and athletes."
