French biathlon star Julia Simon was found guilty of theft and credit card fraud by a French court and handed a three-month suspended prison sentence on Friday, October 24, a decision that raises questions over her participation at next year’s Winter Olympics. Simon was accused of repeatedly using a bank card belonging to her teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, as well as that of a French team staff member, to make online purchases totaling more than €2,000 ($2,300).
Simon has previously claimed 10 world titles and won an Olympic silver medal for France in the mixed relay at the 2022 Beijing Games.
“I can’t explain it. I don’t remember doing it. I can’t make sense of it,” Simon said during the hearing, as quoted by the local newspaper The Dauphiné Libéré. Simon was also fined €15,000 ($17,450) after she admitted the thefts during the hearing and offered apologies to the victims, local media reported.
The French ski federation said, in a statement, that it took note of the court’s ruling and that its disciplinary commission would meet as soon as possible “to determine any disciplinary action at the federation level.” Following the ruling, the French federation could find itself under pressure to leave Simon off the Olympic team. It said it will continue, “as it has since the case first came to light, to take all necessary measures to protect the interests of the athletes, the coaching staff, and the team environment.”
The post French biathlon star Julia Simon convicted of stealing money from a teammate appeared first on Veritas News.
