Pierre-Charles Boudot takes first rides since 2021 after being granted emergency licence in Qatar

Arc-winning rider Pierre-Charles Boudot, who has not ridden in France since May 2021 due to legal proceedings relating to allegations of rape, returned to the saddle in Qatar on Friday after being granted a temporary licence by the local authorities.

The 32-year-old first rode in the second race on the card, the Purebred Arabian Cup, on the Al Shaqab-owned Al Jori and finished fourth after putting up 7kg overweight. He had several other rides and later won on Kerindia in the sixth race on the card.

Boudot, a three-time champion jockey in France, landed the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Waldgeist in 2019. However, he has not ridden in a race since May 2021 after he was indicted on rape charges following accusations made by a work-rider after a party in Cagnes-sur-Mer in February that year.

Although no official statement was forthcoming from the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC), it is understood Boudot is not banned in France, but is also not licensed.

Pierre-Charles Boudot (left) riding work at Al Rayyan racecourse in Doha Credit: Edward Whitaker

Boudot has been in Qatar for the past three months after taking a work-riding role for Al Shaqab and was only issued with a licence earlier on Friday.

It is understood he was granted a one-night licence to replace jockeys who were not happy to ride after expressing concerns regarding the home bend on the turf track following the first race. A delay of more than two hours followed with the card permitted to resume under lights.

Boudot has been riding trackwork on some of the organisation's Arabian horses, with many of them being prepared for the $2.5 million Emir's Sword on Saturday, including Al Ghadeer, who won the feature in their colours 12 months ago and is going for a repeat.

He first had his licence suspended for six months under a section of the French Code des Courses designed to protect the integrity of the sport in May 2021. That suspension was renewed in August 2021 and again in February 2022, at which time Boudot added that he was not seeking his licence back while he concentrated on his defence. 

Boudot's status within the sport has not materially changed since November 2022, when his licence was withdrawn at the behest of the Ministry of the Interior, which acted following a request of the police.

Read more here

Pierre-Charles Boudot suspended for three months pending rape investigation 

Leading jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot indicted for rape of female work-rider 

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