Her credit card fraud now also has sporting consequences for France’s biathlon star Julia Simon – albeit initially manageable ones.
French biathlon world champion Julia Simon will be allowed to take part in the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo next February after her conviction for theft and credit card fraud. As the French Ski Federation (FFS) announced, the 29-year-old was banned from competing and training for six months – five of which, however, were on probation.
The ban applies to all events organized by the FFS and the World Biathlon Federation IBU and came into force on November 7th. Simon will therefore miss the start of the World Cup season in Östersund, Sweden on November 29th. The top athlete would be eligible to compete again at the subsequent World Cup in Hochfilzen in Austria.
In addition, Simon received a fine of 30,000 euros, 15,000 of which was suspended. The French association spoke of a “very strict” decision by the independent disciplinary commission. Both the association and Simon have seven days to appeal the decision.
Criminally convicted
Simon was sentenced two weeks ago in the criminal court in Albertville to a three-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 15,000 euros. The ten-time world champion was accused of using stolen credit card details from her teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (29) and a team physiotherapist to purchase goods worth around 2,500 euros online in December 2021 and August and September 2022.
After Simon had long denied the allegations and also argued that she herself had been a victim of identity theft, she admitted the allegations of theft and fraud in criminal court.
The allegations arose internally at the end of September 2022. Braisaz-Bouchet filed a complaint in early summer 2023. As a result, Simon was temporarily excluded from team training and even briefly taken into police custody.