Julia Simon Faces Legal Proceedings and Social Media Shutdown Amidst Credit Card Fraud Allegations

Julia Simon Shuts Down Social Media Channels

A legal proceeding is underway against French world-class biathlete Julia Simon, accusing her of credit card fraud against two of her teammates. Simon vehemently denies the allegations made against her and has not only distanced herself from any contact with the team but also decided to shut down her social media channels.

New details have emerged in the biathlon scandal surrounding overall World Cup winner Julia Simon. According to reports in French media, Simon is alleged to have illicitly obtained a total of €1,620 from the credit cards of her teammates, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and another unnamed teammate. Braisaz-Bouchet chose to pursue criminal charges against Simon, leading to a legal proceeding.

Conflicting Testimonies

Braisaz-Bouchet's hope of resolving the matter internally was not realized. The French Ski Federation (FFS) confirmed that a disciplinary committee examined the case in early 2023 but was unable to reach a resolution. Subsequently, Braisaz-Bouchet filed a lawsuit. Even a meeting between Simon, Braisaz-Bouchet, and their respective lawyers failed to bring about a solution. The testimonies were in direct contradiction.

The incident in question occurred in the summer of 2022 during the Blink Festival, a roller-ski event in Norway. At that time, the credit cards of Braisaz-Bouchet and another teammate were allegedly charged a total of €1,620. The fraud was uncovered because Simon allegedly used her own computer and email address for the disputed fraudulent activity. The public disclosure of the incident was delayed due to Braisaz-Bouchet's absence from the 2022/23 season due to her pregnancy. She became a mother to a daughter in February 2023.

Biathlon Coach Apologizes for Julia Simon, Citing a Protective Claim

According to her lawyer, Jean-Michel Raynaud, Simon denies the accusations made against her. She has since deactivated her social media channels. The federation announced that she is training individually. Simon also did not participate in a training camp. It was revealed by the team's head coach, Cyril Burdet, that she is suffering from "significant mental exhaustion" and needs to process her "historic and highly successful winter." Simon not only won the overall World Cup title but also claimed victory in the sprint and pursuit discipline rankings.

The federation stated that discussions about Simon's sporting future would only take place once the legal proceedings have concluded and a verdict has been reached. Until then, joint training with the team is not possible, as the trust among her teammates has been shattered.