H&C has learnt that dressage supremo Isabel Werth is pregnant. This follows the recent doping allegations centred on the rider and her horse, Whisper.

Rumours about the 39-year-old swirled round Aachen last week, and this week the news was confirmed by Werth’s trainer, Wolfram Wittig.

The arrival of the baby, due to be born in November, was supposed to be under wraps until after the European Championships. The father is Werth’s partner Wolfgang Urban, a former manager of the Karstadt company. Werth was not in attendance at Aachen, due to her suspension from competition.