The skater Sarah Abitbol had accused in a book published in early 2020, her ex-trainer of repeated rape and sexual assault, when she was between 15 and 17 years old.

Gilles Beyer was indicted for "sexual assault" and "sexual harassment". 

A year after the outbreak of a resounding scandal of sexual violence in the world of figure skating, ex-coach Gilles Beyer was indicted for "sexual assault" and "sexual harassment" and placed under judicial supervision.

The multi-medalist skater Sarah Abitbol had accused in the book

Un si long silence

(Plon), published in early 2020, her ex-trainer of repeated rapes and sexual assault, when she was between 15 and 17 years old, at the beginning from the 90s. However, she had not lodged a complaint, given the statute of limitations.

Gilles Beyer had recognized "inappropriate relations"

In a written statement, Gilles Beyer had recognized "intimate relations" and "inappropriate" with Sarah Abitbol, ​​presenting "apologies" immediately refused by this one.

After these revelations, the Paris prosecutor's office opened a preliminary investigation in early February for "rape and sexual assault on minors by a person in authority", aimed in particular at verifying the existence of other potential victims.

Responsible for the investigation, the Brigade for the protection of minors (BPM) placed Gilles Beyer in custody on Wednesday morning.

Police custody was lifted on Friday morning, a judicial investigation opened by the Paris prosecutor's office and Gilles Beyer was finally indicted by an investigating judge for "sexual assault by a person in authority and sexual harassment by a person in authority" , then placed under judicial supervision.


Contacted Friday, his lawyer, Me Thibault de Montbrial, did not wish to react.

Speech release

A source close to the case indicated that the old accusations of several women, minors at the time of the alleged facts, were time-barred, including those brought by Sarah Abitbol.

According to the same source, only more recent charges, brought by six adult women at the time of the alleged facts, were not time-barred and could be prosecuted.

Three of them accused him of sexual assault.


Several skaters or ex-skaters have also accused Gilles Beyer in the press, such as Hélène Godard, Laure Detante or even Najma Mahamoud, French junior champion in 2014. Sabina Mahamoud, her mother, said she was "relieved and confident that justice be done ".

In the closed world of figure skating, Sarah Abitbol's book had broken the ice and brought about a flood of revelations.

Other skaters had filed charges of sexual assault, sexual harassment or blackmail against other coaches or former skating coaches.

The president for more than twenty years of the French Ice Sports Federation (FFSG), Didier Gailhaguet, was forced after a long standoff to resign from his post in early February 2020, under pressure from the Minister of Sports, Roxana Maracineanu .