“Have something like a blackout”
Biathlon world champion Simon admits credit card fraud
October 24, 2025 – 4:27 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Turning around Julia Simon: At first she denied the fraud allegations, now she admitted them. The public prosecutor’s office is therefore demanding a prison sentence.
The French biathlon world champion Julia Simon has admitted all allegations of theft and fraud against her in the explosive credit card affair. “I confess to the allegations,” said the 29-year-old in front of the criminal court in Albertville. A few months before the Winter Olympics in Milan, the public prosecutor demanded a two-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 20,000 euros.
“I don’t remember committing these acts,” said the 2023 overall World Cup winner and failed to provide a precise explanation. She had previously denied the allegations and argued that she herself had been a victim of identity theft.
The ten-time world champion is accused of stealing credit cards from her teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and another member of the French national team and using them to make online purchases in the summer of 2022.
The fraud 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 in 2023 and was even briefly taken into police custody in October.
Simon apologized to the victims. There were “no financial motives” for their actions. When asked by the prosecutor why she had photos of Braisaz-Bouchet’s bank cards, Simon replied: “I’m kind of having a blackout.” The prosecutor also referred to the “costly, international investigation” because Simon constantly undermined the investigation with new evidence. She was “fully aware” of her actions, which, like her belated confession, raised questions about respect for victims and social order.
The French Ski Federation (FFS) demanded a symbolic euro in compensation. It is important that the athletes get some rest now. Braisaz-Bouchet’s lawyer said she couldn’t settle for that. In addition to the admission of guilt, further explanations are necessary.
The association’s independent national disciplinary commission had already dealt with “internal processes in the French biathlon team” in spring 2023. After the verdict against Simon, the association will comment on its own possible consequences. In the worst case scenario, she could face a ban.