The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into sexual harassment targeting French athlete Jimmy Gressier, after receiving a report in October, he announced on Tuesday February 6, confirming information from L’Equipe.
This report, issued by the director of the National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance (Insep), led to the opening of investigations, entrusted to the police station of the 12th arrondissement of the capital. According to a source close to the matter at Agence France-Presse (AFP), he was targeting Jimmy Gressier, the 26-year-old French 5,000m record holder.
The athlete “has already had to explain himself to sporting authorities”, reacted his lawyer, Me Antoine Maisonneuve. “He disputes the facts and reserves his explanations for the courts,” he added.
This report follows a parliamentary commission of inquiry into the dysfunctions of federations in sport. On September 5, the athlete Claire Palou, interviewed by this commission, notably reported acts of sexual harassment which allegedly took place at Insep, in the heart of the Bois de Vincennes.
According to L’Equipe, Claire Palou claims that Jimmy Gressier, one of her training partners, engaged in inappropriate behavior or comments after a consensual relationship in the past.