Biathlon: Return after credit card scandal – France shields star Julia Simon at comeback

Julia Simon will make her season debut at the Biathlon World Cup round in Hochfilzen after completing the final month of a suspension stemming from a credit card case. Ahead of her return, the French team has placed her under strict media protection: there will be no pre‑race press conference with Simon, and the federation has instructed that nobody speak about her case, explicitly discouraging press questions on the topic.

French federation director Stéphane Bouthiaux told Nordic Magazine that civil and sports justice have both done their jobs, emphasizing that the team is not there to judge but to implement decisions and move forward. He described the situation as one of “wait and see,” noting that Simon has trained seriously and appears to be in good shape, but it’s hard to predict anything until she competes.

Bouthiaux added that once Simon’s suspension officially ended on Monday, it was clear she would be allowed to start in Hochfilzen if she wished—and she was eager to return to competition as quickly as possible. How fans and fellow athletes will receive her remains uncertain, but France aims to keep the focus on her performance on the tracks and at the range rather than on the scandal.