French biathlete Julia Simon suspected of fraud

One of the strongest biathletes on the planet, winner of the World Cup last season and silver medalist of the 2022 Games, Julia Simon, got into an unpleasant situation. The athlete was formally arrested and interrogated on suspicion of bank card fraud and embezzlement. Julia Simon allegedly used the card of her French teammate Justine Brezaz-Boucher to buy a pair of GoPro cameras from an online store. The amount of damage is just over €1.6 thousand. At the same time, Julia Simon can hardly be classified as needy. Last season alone, her prize money amounted to about €300 thousand. Now, if Simone is found guilty, she faces up to five years in prison.

French biathlete, silver medalist of the 2022 Games in Tokyo, winner of the 2022/23 World Cup, Julie Simon, was subjected to arrest and subsequent interrogation on Tuesday. Let us note that the French police did not twist the athlete’s hands. The arrest, or rather the decision on it, is only a necessary formality for the interrogation of Mrs. Simon as a suspect. After a conversation with investigators, the biathlete, as reported by the publication L’Equipewas sent home.

The scandalous story began in the summer of 2022. Then another French biathlete, Justine Brezaz-Boucher, complained to the leadership of the French Ski Federation (FFS) that Julia Simon, during the Blink festival held in Norway (where athletes skated roller skis), used her bank card data for purchases in an online store without permission . She is sure that Ms. Simon somehow gained access to both her personal computer and email messages, which allowed her to take possession of confidential data.

A little later, a similar statement was made by one of the members of the national team’s technical team. However, FFS delayed responding to Brezaz-Boucher’s statement, and then she contacted the police.

Justine Brezaz-Boucher officially accused Julie Simone of using her card details to buy several GoPro cameras worth €1.6 thousand.

Julia Simon allegedly stole €20 from the second victim, whose name was not named, in the same way.

After Brezaz-Boucher went to the police, FFS also began to stir. However, the federation’s disciplinary committee was unable to make any decision. The FFS explained that they have neither the authority nor the capabilities to conduct a full-fledged criminal investigation, and without it it is impossible to establish the guilt of Julie Simon.

After all, she herself firmly adheres to the version that someone else “stole her identity” and committed illegal actions on her behalf.

As a result, it was decided to wait until the police finished their work and only then react somehow.

If it is indeed proven that Julia Simon stole money from bank cards, she may face a very severe punishment – up to five years in prison. The investigation, however, will have to explain why an athlete who earns very well, but only last season and only in the form of prize money, she received €288 thousand (only Norwegians Sturla Holm Lægreid earned more in biathlon – €290 thousand and Johannes Boe – €444 thousand), it was necessary to steal first €1.6 thousand, and then twenty.

Alexander Petrov