Biathlon: Mona Brorsson calls French team scandal “as close to treason as an athlete can get”

SVT’s Vinterstudion returned with a discussion of the latest controversies surrounding the French biathlon team. Expert commentator Mona Brorsson reacted strongly to reports from Dicodusport that Jeanne Richard deliberately adjusted teammate Océane Michelon’s diopter (rear sight) in secret before a race last season, an act that would completely change the point of impact. According to those reports, Richard was allegedly caught in the act by fellow French star Justine Braisaz‑Bouchet.

“It’s as close to treason as an athlete can get,” Brorsson said, adding that competition within a team is one thing, but sabotaging a teammate is unforgivable. “I can only speak for myself, but I could never forgive that.” Co‑expert Björn Ferry also questioned how Richard could still be part of the team.

The program also updated the long‑running case involving Julia Simon, who has been convicted in a French court of fraud and theft involving Braisaz‑Bouchet’s bank card. Simon received a three‑month suspended sentence and a fine of approximately 166,000 SEK. The French biathlon federation suspended her for six months, a sanction communicated on November 7 with one month remaining at that time. Simon is currently suspended and is set to miss the World Cup opener in Östersund in two weeks. In addition, the Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU), the independent disciplinary body of the International Biathlon Union, is reviewing Simon’s case and could tighten the sanction.