Peter Charles, who has been struggling with an ankle injury since the beginning of July, has pulled out of this weekend's Dutch fixture at Zuidlaren following confirmation that his ankle is broken. Charles, who won individual gold at the European championships in 1995, injured the ankle in a fall during the Eventers Grand Prix at Hickstead in July. X-rays at the time failed to reveal a hairline fracture and, after torn ligaments were diagnosed, Charles started a course of intensive physiotherapy.

The Hampshire-based Irishman, who is part of the Traxdata showjumping team, was forced to withdraw from Kerrygold Dublin and his bid to get fit for the European championships at the end of August also proved fruitless.

Charles has been back on the circuit since last month, finishing third in the Liege Grand Prix with the French mare Amber du Montois a fortnight ago. But recurring pain forced Charles to seek a second opinion and the break was finally diagnosed by Charles's vet, P J McMahon.

Charles, due to have surgery on the ankle, has decided to postpone the operation until after the World Cup qualifier at Olympia just before Christmas. He has pulled out of Zuidlaren this weekend in the hope that he can jump at the Millstreet World Cup show next week. He is also planning to compete in the German qualifier at Berlin the following week.