The Julia Simon case has shaken up the French biathlon sport in recent months, but the Olympic boss no longer expects any negative effects for the 2030 Games in the future.
According to Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, President of the National Olympic Committee in France, the Julia Simon credit card affair has no negative impact on the biathletes’ performance.
It was “obviously a story that must have been difficult to bear and that inevitably had an impact,” said the Olympic chief for the 2030 Games to “Le Dauphiné”. The big but: “The fact that justice has been done, that Julia Simon has served her ban imposed by the association, that there is now a high level of situational awareness and maturity on the part of the coaches and that those involved have expressed a desire to return to sport makes me believe that this difficult time is behind us and will not leave any traces on the Olympic Games.”
Julia Simon admitted in court that she had stolen her teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet’s credit card and used it to make purchases. She was then sentenced to a suspended prison sentence and a fine.
The French Biathlon Federation also imposed a six-month ban, five of which were suspended, during which she was not allowed to take part in training or competitions. After the start in Östersund, Simon was able to return to the World Cup, and in Annecy she knocked on the top again for the first time with fourth place in the pursuit.
Threats against Braisaz-Bouchez’s family: “Deeply outrages me”
This meant that for the first time she was ahead of her compatriot Braisaz-Bouchet, who came ninth. The 29-year-old recently spoke openly about the effects of the scandal.
She was “very insulted in relation to the case and what happened,” said the Frenchwoman, who also made it public that she had recently received threats against her daughter on social media. However, these are not related to Julia Simon’s return to the World Cup.
Olympic boss Amélie Oudéa-Castéra has now assured the athlete of her full support: “I am deeply outraged by this cyberbullying. It is completely unjustified and unacceptable. It is inconceivable that Justine Braisaz-Bouchet has to protect her daughter from these attacks. This is inadmissible. We must fight this evil with all our might. I would like to express my unreserved support.”