After her final conviction for credit card theft and fraud, France’s biathlon star Julia Simon’s contract with the national customs authority has been terminated. The three-time Olympic champion has already lodged an objection against this decision. Because the process is pending, the 29-year-old remains part of the team, at least on paper.
Biathlon star Julia Simon is currently only on paper for the French customs team. A spokesman for the authority confirmed this to Nordic Magazine.
Attentive observers were suspicious because the customs team was no longer listed after Simon’s name at the official squad announcement on Monday – unlike, for example, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Quentin Fillon Maillet and Èmilien Jacquelin.
A customs spokesman told Nordic Magazine that the contract with the three-time Olympic champion was terminated after her conviction last fall. Simon objected to this. We are now waiting for the final verdict. Until then, she remains a “team member on probation.” Termination is currently “not feasible,” the authority said.
The administration is now waiting for a final decision. The authority explained that it is not yet possible to predict when this can be expected.
Simon is causing a stir in biathlon in France
Simon was sentenced last fall to a three-month suspended sentence and a fine for credit card theft and fraud. The ten-time world champion had stolen her teammate Braisaz-Bouchet’s credit card in the past and used it to make purchases on the Internet.
The case was the big topic of conversation around the French team for months. After her conviction, Simon was also banned from the national ski association and was only able to start the season late. Ultimately, however, this did not affect their sporting triumph.
