Internal tensions never end within the men’s epee of the French fencing team. At the end of an Olympic year marked by the rebellion of its three executives (Romain Cannone, Yannick Borel and Alexandre Bardenet), the French Federation undoubtedly hoped that the announcement of the Olympic selection would put an end to the dissensions. It is not so.
Subjective and scandalous criteria according to Bardenet’s lawyer
While he presented the third national record and greatly participated in the qualification of the Blues in the team table for the Games, the 34-year-old shooter was not selected by the selection committee, left aside in the benefit of Luidgi Midelton and Paul Allègre. However, the swordsman believes that this sidelining is linked to extra-sporting reasons, as his lawyer explains to The Team . “The choice of the Selection Committee is subjective and scandalous, assures Me Joan Roche of the law firm Thierry Braillard & Associés, who is defending him in this procedure. Athletes are not aware of the clear rules on the basis of which they will be selected. It is a sporting choice which should only be guided by objectivity, rationality and fairness. We are far from it. »
The shooter therefore filed an appeal with the CNOSF (French National Olympic and Sports Committee). Indeed, Alexandre Bardenet’s lawyer believes that procedural defects affect the selection decision, as was the case for the selection of the men’s saber: the regulations provide for the presence of five people or their representatives on the Committee. However, Frantz Philippe, director of high performance, on sick leave, was neither present nor represented.
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An additional procedure which the French Fencing Federation would have gone through well.
