Bjørndalen was surprised by the credit card decision for Julia Simon

Credit card scandals involving star athletes

The biathlon legend was shocked by the light sentence

November 10, 2025 – 18.00Reading time: 2 minutes

Julia Simon: The Frenchwoman only missed the start of the season after her penalty. (Source: IMAGO/GEPA Images/Alexander Solc/imago)

Now there is a verdict on the cheating scandal involving biathlete Julia Simon. The fact that it is not more difficult causes a lack of understanding for a great sportsman.

Biathlon legend Ole Einar Bjørndalen commented on the credit card scandal involving top French athlete Julia Simon – and expressed his incomprehension about the consequences for the 29-year-old.

“It’s surprising that the verdict is so light,” the eight-time Olympic champion said on Norwegian television station TV 2. Bjørndalen previously stated that he expected Simon to miss all the World Cup races before Christmas. But because the independent disciplinary commission of the French ski association FFS only banned Simon for six months, five of which were on probation, he only missed the start in Östersund, Sweden (29 November to 7 December). There was also a fine of 30,000 euros, half of which was also suspended.

The ban was motivated by the credit card scandal surrounding the overall winner of the 2023 World Cup. At the end of October, Simon was sentenced to a fine of 15,000 euros and a suspended sentence of three months in prison at a criminal court in Albertville. The reason: He is said to have purchased goods worth around 2,500 euros between December 2021 and September 2022 using stolen credit card information. The data also comes from teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and the team’s physiotherapist.

According to French newspaper Dauphiné Libéré, Simon told the court there was “no financial motive” for his actions. “It’s ridiculous and stupid because I don’t need it,” said the multiple world champion.

For Bjørndalen, the case was difficult to understand from start to finish. “At first the whole issue was completely incomprehensible to me,” he explains. Regarding the sentence imposed by the independent disciplinary commission on Simon, the 51-year-old said: “Now he has been found guilty of five cases, which is even more incomprehensible.”