Julia Simon set to compete at Winter Olympics despite six-month ban by French Ski Federation
Published 07/11/2025 at 08:27 GMT
Julia Simon looks set to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics despite being handed a six-month ban by the French Ski Federation. The 29-year-old is one of biathlon's biggest names after winning 10 World Championship gold medals. The French star also won a silver medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Simon's ban comes after she was convicted of credit card fraud last month.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Julia Simon will be able to compete at next year’s Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina after being handed a six-month ban by the French Ski Federation following a credit card fraud and theft conviction.
The French biathlete’s ban will be suspended for five months, meaning she will be free to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in February, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Simon was convicted of credit-card fraud and theft last month, for which she was fined €15,000 (£13,200) and handed a suspended three-month sentence.
During her trial, she insisted that she could not explain her actions or remember doing them but admitted "the entirety of the facts".
"I can’t explain it. I don’t remember doing it. I can’t make sense of it," she said at the time.
Simon had previously denied any wrongdoing.
The 29-year-old is one of biathlon's biggest stars after winning a silver medal in the mixed relay at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and claiming 10 gold medals at the Biathlon World Championships.
A statement from the French Ski Federation revealed that they wanted to allow Simon to continue competing at the highest level.
"The National Disciplinary Committee has taken into account the seriousness of the conviction while also recognising Julia Simon’s achievements and status as an elite athlete," the French Ski Federation statement read.
"This decision aims to balance accountability with the opportunity for her to continue competing at the highest level."
Simon will also be fined €30,000 (£26,400) by the French Ski Federation.
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The 2026 Winter Olympics will start on February 6 and run until February 22.
The ban prevents Simon from taking part in any competitions or training sessions arranged by the French Ski Federation.
The ban will get under way on November 7.
Simon picked up four of her 10 World Championship gold medals at this year’s event in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.
Watch and stream the Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 on TNT Sports and discovery+
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