4 years after rape accusation, Boudot rides again in Qatar

Pierre-Charles Boudot, a three-time champion jockey in France whose riding career was shut down after he was accused of rape in 2021, returned to racing Friday in Qatar.

According to Racing Post, the 2019 winner of the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with Waldgeist was given an emergency, one-day license by the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club allowing him to ride Friday at Doha. Boudot, 32, guided Kerindia to victory in the sixth race.

Boudot was accused of sexual assault by a fellow rider. She said it happened at a part that she and Boudot attended in France in February 2021. Through a lawyer, Boudot denied it.

Boudot had not had a competitive ride since that spring, when he was banned for what ended up being more than a year. Racing Post said that while Boudot is not under any current suspension in his native France, he also is not licensed there.

Al Shaqab has employed Boudot as an exercise rider in the Middle East. Racing Post said he was pressed into racing Friday, because regular jockeys refused to ride. They were upset about the condition of part of the turf course at Doha. A two-hour delay followed before the card resumed under the lights.