Albi (AFP)

Mistreated by business, especially doping, and broken down from sporting exploits, the French Athletics Federation (FFA) is struggling to get out of a gloomy climate amplified by power struggles and management deemed harmful by several employees.

Albi, its cathedral, its mansions which reflect their pink bricks in the calm waters of the Tarn: the setting for the French athletics Championships held on Saturday and Sunday seems almost ideal.

At the FFA on the other hand, it's been a long time since we saw life in pink.

The atmosphere remains tense between the National Technical Director Patrice Gergès and the General Director Souad Rochdi and his relatives (in particular Mehdi Baala), considered to be part of the "clan" of the former DTN Ghani Yalouz, of which Gergès was the deputy. .

At the Doha Worlds at the end of 2019, the catastrophic results (two medals, no title) revealed a deleterious atmosphere.

"In Doha what was complicated was that we needed serenity, but everyone was shooting each other in the feathers. And no one came out a winner in these battles for power. Even if it didn't. Nothing explains the results, "said the captain Renaud Lavillenie, himself out of the game (eliminated in qualifying for the pole).

- 'Calm climate' -

On the return from Qatar, heads threaten to fall.

President André Giraud, the director of high performance of the National Sports Agency (ANS) Claude Onesta and the Ministry of Sports headed by Roxana Maracineanu agree to keep Patrice Gergès in office, but cut back his prerogatives by calling for rescues former cyclist Florian Rousseau to prepare for the Olympics.

In November 2019, during a steering committee under pressure, the DTN made its self-criticism but also complained about anonymous calls, "including some with threats against his physical integrity".

Atmosphere.

"We have no particular problem, for me the climate is calm, believes Souad Rochdi. I reassure you, Doha is well behind us. We took a long time, for sure, as after a divorce, but we are well managed to get back in the saddle. "

Still, the image of the Fédé has been largely tarnished in recent months by incredible doping cases: the marathoner Clémence Calvin is suspended four years for having fled a test, the steepleuse Ophélie Claude-Boxberger is still awaiting her judgment a year after her positive control for EPO, while she was in the midst of a romantic relationship with the FFA doctor, who has since been dismissed.

In June, the former world champion in the long jump hall Eloyse Lesueur also claimed nearly 200,000 euros from the FFA, accused of having mismanaged her earnings from an administrative aid system that would have derived , which the Fed firmly denies.

So what is the blue house doing to straighten out?

"Take back control of our content, better control our image. Being broadcast in the clear can bring us more positive audiences", explains Souad Rochdi, while the French championships are broadcast this weekend on the L'Equipe channel.

On doping, the Federation claims to have tightened the screw, by now funding courses only on very strict criteria.

- 'North Korea' -

At the heart of this swaying boat, the general director Souad Rochdi focuses several criticisms on her management.

"It stifles everyone, it's an autocracy. It's North Korea. It changes speech according to its interlocutors, it loses everyone," laments an employee, who requested anonymity.

"The social climate has deteriorated. She applies Machiavelli to the letter, divide in order to rule better. She can + kill + someone by snapping her fingers, says a former employee of avenue Pierre de Coubertin (south of Paris), the headquarters of the FFA. Humiliations, strategies, cheap blows, she practices management through fear. "

“I am not authoritarian, I am on the contrary in the delegation, defends Ms. Rochdi. I am not in my habit of humiliating people, on the contrary, that's why I work in an association. do not understand, I am very shocked. We are doing everything to ensure that the social climate is the best. "

Right hand of President André Giraud, who presents himself as a big favorite for a second term in December, this former athlete, a historical figure of the FFA, is also accused of wanting to concentrate powers by using or ousting the various directors of poles.

The FFA and its budget of around 19 million euros in 2020, for example, has not had a financial director for nearly a year.

The confinement did not help with recruitment, the process of which is still ongoing.

Ten months from the Tokyo Games (July 2021) and only four years from Paris 2024, there is still work to be done at the FFA to restore its image in serenity.

© 2020 AFP