French biathlete Julia Simon, convicted of fraud, returns to the World Cup after her ban. The French Ski Association nominated the ten-time world champion for the races starting on Friday in Hochfilzen, Austria. The 29-year-old will compete in her first races of the Olympic winter from Friday, when the second World Cup begins with the sprint (2.15 p.m./ARD and Eurosport).
The overall World Cup winner of the 2022/2023 season caused a stir with the explosive credit card affair. Simon had confessed to having purchased goods worth around 2,500 euros online using stolen credit card details from her teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (29) and a team physiotherapist. She was then sentenced on October 24th to a three-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 15,000 euros.
Association only blocks Simon briefly
The French Ski Association banned Simon from competing and training for six months – although five months of that were suspended. The ban applied from November 7th, so she only missed the start in Östersund. The association spoke of a “very strict” decision, but even with the fine of 30,000 euros, 15,000 were suspended.
Immediately before the start of the Olympic season, the well-informed magazine “Ski Chrono” spoke of a “tense atmosphere” within the French women’s team. It seems difficult to imagine that Simon can be reintegrated normally. However, the French association also knows about the sporting qualities of the fast shooter, who should win as many medals as possible at the Winter Games.
Simon won four gold medals at the World Championships in Switzerland in the spring and became the most successful athlete. After Olympic silver with the mixed relay in Beijing in 2022, her first Olympic victory is now her big goal.