Brian Joubert finds himself plunged into turmoil, after several reports for “acts of violence”, revealed by the magazine L’Obs. The facts alleged against the 2007 world figure skating champion allegedly occurred in his club, in Poitiers, where he is a coach. An administrative inquiry as well as a judicial inquiry should shed light on the charges against him. The facts were revealed by Gwenaëlle Noury, the president of the French Ice Sports Federation (FFSG), who indicated that a disciplinary commission had been seized on August 29.
Among the facts that must be verified by justice, a relationship between the skater and an underage skater, trained by the respondent, are at the heart of the investigation. Parents of young club members reportedly reported the incident. “I never crossed that line,” replied Brian Joubert, denying the charges.
“I’m not saying I’m perfect, but I’m doing my best,” defended Brian Joubert to L’Obs magazine. “It’s hard to know when you’re crossing the line these days. The skater defended himself by advancing in turn inappropriate behavior on the part of certain parents and their children, accusing them of insulting him.
These accusations come on top of other accusations of sexual violence that have troubled the world of figure skating since 2020, when skater Sarah Abitbol denounced violence by coaches against ex-skaters.