Julia Simon’s suffering is over: France’s biathlon superstar is about to return to the World Cup after being banned because of the credit card affair.
As the French Ski Association FFS announced on Monday, the 29-year-old is part of the squad for the second stop of the winter in Hochfilzen, which begins on Friday.
Simon appeared in court on October 24th. The ten-time world champion was accused of repeatedly using the bank cards of her teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and a physiotherapist from the French team from 2021 onwards for purchases worth a total of up to 2,400 euros and of stealing smaller amounts of money (between 20 and 50 euros).
After her confession and a public apology, Simon was given a three-month suspended sentence and a fine of 15,000 euros.
Simon’s ban has officially expired
The FFS disciplinary committee then issued a ban of six months, five of which were on probation, which came into force on November 7th.
As a result, she only missed the start of the World Cup in Östersund, Sweden. In addition to the ban, Simon was sentenced to a fine of €30,000, of which €15,000 was suspended.
In Hochfilzen the biathletes start the sprint over 7.5 kilometers on Friday (2:15 p.m./ARD and Eurosport). The relay and pursuit will follow until Sunday.
Not there at Schalke
However, Simon will not be taking part in the World Team Challenge in Schalke this year. Last week the organizers confirmed that France would compete in Gelsenkirchen with Lou Jeanmonnot and Fabien Claude.
It is unclear whether Simon canceled her participation on his own initiative or was not even invited. However, the portal “sports.fr” claims to have learned that the 29-year-old has been unloaded.
As hosts, the German team will be the only nation to start with two teams. DSV is represented by Janina Hettich-Walz and Justus Strelow as well as Marlene Fichtner and Danilo Riethmüller.