New shock for the French national team: Now the dramatic criminal case against the biathlon star has taken a new turn.

There has been silence around the criminal case against Julia Simon since the start of last season, and many in the biathlon community expected that the star athlete would avoid prosecution.

But on Wednesday, the case took a new turn.

It is now clear that the 28-year-old must appear in court in Albertville on October 24, charged with fraud and theft. This was reported by the French newspaper Le Dauphiné.

Simon has consistently denied the accusations.

Extensive investigation

The French biathlon star Julia Simon was reported in January 2023 for having misused the credit card of teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, a member of the national team’s support staff.

The fraud is alleged to have occurred in connection with the Blink Festival in 2022 and reportedly involved online purchases of electronics worth just over € 2,000, which were delivered to Simon’s residence in Beaufortain.

In October 2023, Simon was arrested and later released by French police.

The police launched an extensive investigation, especially into electronic traces and data traffic. This investigation is now complete, and the findings will be presented as evidence in the trial, which is scheduled to start at the end of October.

Also Read – Former biathlon star gets justice: Long-running trial comes to an end

Strained team environment

The new development in the Simon case is unlikely to improve the already strained environment within the French national team.

Although athletes may smile in some photos, the atmosphere within the squad has been marred by conflicts and personal tensions for several years.

Simon won the overall World Cup in 2024. She also has Olympic silver from 2022, 10 World Championship gold medals, and 23 World Cup victories.

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