On Thursday evening, the French Ski Federation (FFS) decided that biathlete Julia Simon, convicted of fraud, will be suspended for six months.

The French biathlon star, Julia Simon, who was convicted of fraud and theft against her national teammate, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, and several other members of the national team, has been suspended for six months.

The decision was announced Thursday evening when the disciplinary committee of the French Ski Federation (FFS) presented its ruling. Julia Simon is suspended for six months.

The decision comes two weeks after the 29-year-old was sentenced to a three-month suspended prison sentence and a €15,000 fine by the criminal court in Albertville.

Read More: Biathlon star confesses to fraud – Suspended prison sentence and fine

Additional consequences

For three years, French biathlete Julia Simon denied allegations of fraud and theft against her teammate, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, and other members of the national team.

On Friday, October 24, Simon had to appear in court in Albertville as a defendant in a criminal case. Confronted with evidence gathered over two years of investigation, the 29-year-old confessed on the spot, including further offenses involving several victims not mentioned in the original 2023 complaint.

Simon was sentenced to a three-month suspended prison term and a fine of €15,000.

But in addition to the criminal sentence, Simon must now also face significant sporting, financial, and professional consequences — including sanctions from the French Ski Federation (FFS).

On Thursday evening, the FFS announced that, in addition to the court ruling, it would suspend Simon for six months, with one month being unconditional and the remaining five being conditional. The federation also fined her €30,000, half of which is conditional. According to the federation, this money will be used to fund initiatives for children and youth.

The ethics committee of the International Biathlon Union (Biathlon Integrity Unit – BIU) may also decide to impose further penalties on Simon. However, the IBU had stated it would wait to evaluate its next steps until after the French federation’s decision.

Also Read: Bjørndalen believes Julia Simon will race at the Olympics despite fraud conviction

FACTS: The case

French biathlete Julia Simon has admitted to misusing the credit card of her teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and another member of the team’s support staff, as well as committing two additional cases of fraud, all between 2021 and 2022. The confession was made in court in Albertville, France, on Friday, October 24, 2025.

In January 2023, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet filed a complaint against Simon for fraud and theft from her and another member of the support staff. The case involved online purchases of electronics worth more than €2,000 delivered to Simon’s residence in Beaufortain, as well as several other online orders. The incidents occurred in several locations in 2022, including the Blink Festival in Sandnes, Norway.

In October 2023, Simon was arrested and questioned by police. At the time, she still denied the accusations of fraud and theft. The police then launched an extensive investigation, focusing on electronic traces and data traffic.

The investigation has now been completed, and the findings were presented as evidence in court in Albertville on October 24.

In addition to the previously known offenses, investigators uncovered more incidents. Simon was charged with five counts, involving a total of three victims. The indictment in the criminal case included the following:

• Fraud on December 2, 2021, in Östersund (Sweden)
• Fraud between August 5–11, 2022, in Sandnes (Norway) and Villard-sur-Dolon (France)
• Flight from August 5–7, 2022, to Sandnes (Norway)
• Fraud between September 22–25, 2022, in Premanon (France)
• Attempted fraud between September 22–25, 2022, in Premanon (France)

Julia Simon had maintained her innocence throughout, but on October 24, she confessed to all charges in court.

The prosecution had requested a two-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of €20,000. The judges ruled a three-month suspension and a €15,000 fine.

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