French biathlete Julia Simon has been arrested by the police on charges of committing fraud against a teammate.
The news was reported by the French newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré. Simon, the defending World Cup champion, is accused of defrauding Olympic winner Justine Braisaz-Bouchet.
Known case since last year
The case has been known since last year. Simon is alleged to have used her teammate's credit card to make online purchases worth between 1,000 and 2,000 euros, approximately equivalent to $1.050 to $2.100. The fraud is said to have occurred in August of last year during the Blink Festival in Sandnes, Norway.
Simon vehemently denies all the allegations.
"Julia Simon's stance is clear. She disputes the charges," said her then-lawyer, Jean-Michel Reynaud, according to L'Équipe last summer.
The disciplinary committee of France's ski federation decided on June 1 to await the outcome of the police investigation.
The prosecutor in Albertville has been investigating the case for over a year. Julia Simon has since changed her lawyer and claims that she must have been a victim of identity theft.
It is not yet decided whether charges will be filed against Simon.
