French prosecutors mentioned on Wednesday that the pinnacle of France’s skilled handball league has been taken in for police questioning in a toddler intercourse abuse and pornography investigation, the newest sporting scandal within the nation forward of subsequent 12 months’s Paris Olympics.
Bruno Martini was detained Monday morning on suspicion of tried sexual assault on a 15-year-old lady, corrupting a minor and recording youngster pornography, the Paris prosecutor’s workplace mentioned. The president of the National Handball League was launched Tuesday evening forward of an anticipated plea deal on youngster corruption and pornography expenses, the prosecutor’s workplace mentioned.
Before transferring into handball administration, Martini was a star participant, preserving aim in 202 appearances for the French nationwide staff. He is the newest chief of an Olympic sport in France underneath police investigation within the countdown to the 2024 Games, which begin in Paris inside 550 days.
Noel Le Graet, the president of the French Football Federation, is underneath investigation for sexual harassment and “moral turpitude”. French rugby federation president Bernard Laporte is interesting a two-year suspended sentence handed down by a Paris courtroom final month. He was discovered responsible of passive corruption, influencing, unlawful curiosity and misappropriation of company belongings.
Tony Estanguet, the pinnacle of the Paris Games’ organizing committee, expressed hope on Wednesday that there can be fast progress on numerous issues “so that we can turn the page”.
“French sports need stability,” he mentioned. “We hope things get back to normal soon.”
The government committee of the National Handball League held an emergency assembly on Wednesday to think about Martini’s place and mentioned it was anticipating his resignation as president, describing it as “possible and desirable”.
Handball is a well-liked sport in France. The nation’s women and men are the present Olympic champions.
News of the investigation involving two-time Olympian and two-time world champion Martini with the nationwide staff got here as France’s males ready to play Germany on Wednesday for a semi-final spot on the world championships.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
