The international modern pentathlon federation on Saturday banned a Germany team coach from the Olympics for punching a horse on the rump during competition.
Kim Raisner can be seen on videos posted to social media leaning over a fence and punching the rear of the horse as German rider Annika Schleu struggles to control the animal during competition at Tokyo Stadium on Friday.
The federation, known as the UIPM which is the acronym of its French name, said its executive board reviewed footage of the incident and decided to disqualify Raisner from the rest of the Tokyo Games.
"Her actions were deemed to be in violation of the UIPM competition rules, which are applied to all recognized modern pentathlon competitions including the Olympic Games," a statement posted on the federation's website read.
Unlike in the sport of equestrian where athletes and horses enter as a team, modern pentathlon competitors are matched with an unfamiliar horse that they must quickly bond with before competing in a show jumping competition, one of the event's four phases.
Schleu can be seen in the footage in tears as she struggles to control the horse, named Saint Boy, which is unsettled and veering wildly around the course.
At the time, she was leading the event and was in a good position to win gold but due to her issues with her steed she was eliminated from the riding segment and finished 31st overall.
