French biathlete Julia Simon, the most decorated world champion in French history, will face trial on October 24th for alleged theft and fraud involving bank cards, according to the Albertville prosecutor's office. The 28-year-old athlete, who contests the allegations, will appear before the correctional court in Albertville, Savoie, where the case has been progressing for over two years.

The charges stem from two complaints filed in December 2022 and May 2023 by a member of the French team staff and Simon's club and national team partner, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet. Investigators have identified a third potential victim in the case. The alleged fraudulent purchases, which authorities say occurred during a training camp in Norway in summer 2022, involve amounts of approximately 2,300 euros, with individual claims of 1,600 euros and about 20 euros respectively.

Simon maintains her innocence in the matter, stating that her name was used without her knowledge. "There were purchases made by bank card with my name on them, but today, I am also a victim of this situation. My name was used without my knowledge," Simon told regional newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré in August 2023. The athlete has filed her own complaint for identity theft against an unknown party.

The legal proceedings come at a challenging time for Simon, who recently suffered an ankle sprain that disrupted her training schedule less than a year before the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The four-time world champion, who made history with a quadruple victory at last winter's World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, remains part of the French team for the upcoming Olympic Games despite the ongoing legal situation.