German modern pentathlon coach Kim Raisner has been kicked out of the Tokyo Olympics for punching a horse.
Raisner was attempting to help athlete Annika Schleu control the horse Saint Boy in the show jumping round of Friday's women's modern pentathlon.
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The competitors are allowed 20 minutes to bond with the horse they are given, but Schleu failed to build an understanding with Saint Boy. Schleu was the leader at that point in the event, but the horse refused to trot around the course and navigate the jumps. Schleu was visibly upset as her gold medal hopes ended.
Raisner was heard telling Schleu to "really hit" the horse in an attempt to control it, and was also seen punching the horse above their back leg.
The actions drew criticism, and Germany's Olympic chief Alfons Hoermann stood Raisner down for the men's modern pentathlete on Saturday.
"We were all in agreement that the coach will not be at the competition on Saturday," Hoermann said.
"We also consider that an urgent review of the incident is necessary, especially in terms of animal protection, and that the national and international federations draw their conclusions."
Raisner was later disqualified from the Games by government body UIPM (Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne).
"The UIPM Executive Board (EB) has given a black card to the Germany team coach Kim Raisner, disqualifying her from the remainder of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games," the UIPM statement read.
"The EB reviewed video footage that showed Ms Raisner appearing to strike the horse Saint Boy, ridden by Annika Schleu (GER), with her fist during the Riding discipline of the Women's Modern Pentathlon competition.
"Her actions were deemed to be in violation of the UIPM Competition Rules, which are applied to all recognised Modern Pentathlon competitions including the Olympic Games."