Biathlon world champion Julia Simon convicted for credit card fraud, receives suspended sentence

French biathlon star and multiple world champion Julia Simon has been found guilty in the high‑profile credit card case involving teammates’ cards. The court in Albertville sentenced the 29‑year‑old to three months in prison, suspended, and imposed a €15,000 fine.

Simon admitted the charges of theft and fraud for the first time in court, saying: “I confess to the accusations.” The case centered on purchases made online in summer 2022 using cards belonging to teammate Justine Braisaz‑Bouchet and another member of the French national team. The prosecution had requested two months suspended and a €20,000 fine.

In addition to the fine, Simon must pay Braisaz‑Bouchet’s legal costs and a symbolic €1 in damages to the French Ski Federation (FFS). The federation’s independent national disciplinary commission, which reviewed internal issues in 2023, will now decide “as soon as possible” on possible disciplinary measures; a suspension is considered possible.

Simon told the court she had “a kind of blackout” and could not remember committing the acts, offering no detailed explanation. She had previously denied wrongdoing, claiming she was the victim of identity theft. The prosecution criticized the “costly international investigation,” arguing Simon knowingly obstructed inquiries with ever‑new evidence and that her delayed admission raised questions of respect toward the victims and public order.

The allegations first surfaced internally in late September 2022; Braisaz‑Bouchet filed a complaint in early summer 2023. Simon was temporarily excluded from team training in 2023 and briefly held in police custody in October that year. The verdict comes months before the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Olympic season intensifies, potentially affecting her sporting future depending on the FFS decision.

Source: dpa/sid.