German pentathlon coach thrown out of Tokyo 2020 for punching horse

A German coach has been thrown out of the Olympics for appearing to punch a horse who was refusing to jump or trot during the modern pentathlon.

Coach Kim Raisner was heard on German TV urging tearful athlete Annika Schleu to "really hit" the horse while she struggled to control Saint Boy during the showjumping round of Friday's women's event.

BBC News reports Schleu had been leading the event before the equestrian, where athletes are given just 20 minutes to bond with a horse they have never ridden.

Modern pentathlon's governing body, the UIPM, said it had reviewed video footage that appeared to show Raisner - who competed at the 2004 Olympics in modern pentathlon - striking the horse with her fist.

[Source: BBC ]