Updates from the French Minister for Sports's meeting with Didier today, from Twitterers who have been following this closely: the Minister has effectively asked Didier to resign (I believe the official wording was 'she expects him to hold himself responsible'). She's also asked for a full investigation to be done by the Prosecutor's Office and has withdrawn the state's 'delegation' (I'm not sure how to translate that term - authorisation? support? authority to act?) from the FFSG, which is the first step towards defunding and decertifying it. In other words, the nuclear option has been invoked, the FFSG has 15 days to prove that it isn't a complete mess, and if it can't, kaboom, basically no more FFSG in any way that counts. Which may mean that it won't be able to send athletes to Worlds (though that's not the same as saying no French athletes will be able to compete - there may be workarounds that can be found).
Didier has so far refused to resign.
Phillipe Candeloro is speaking out publicly to back up Sarah Abitbol and Gwendal Peizarat, as he has before. Sarah Abitbol apparently got in touch with him and other 'elders' of the sport to let him know she was about to go public with her story shortly before her book was published, and they have been lining up to have their say. He is front of the line and as in 2014 he is not holding back.
ETA: Ooop, no, update: He's not 'refusing to resign', he's 'refusing to answer the question' and 'taking time to think about things'. Which is kind of the same thing said a different way and with wiggle room available. Press conference in two days' time.
Didier has so far refused to resign.
Phillipe Candeloro is speaking out publicly to back up Sarah Abitbol and Gwendal Peizarat, as he has before. Sarah Abitbol apparently got in touch with him and other 'elders' of the sport to let him know she was about to go public with her story shortly before her book was published, and they have been lining up to have their say. He is front of the line and as in 2014 he is not holding back.
ETA: Ooop, no, update: He's not 'refusing to resign', he's 'refusing to answer the question' and 'taking time to think about things'. Which is kind of the same thing said a different way and with wiggle room available. Press conference in two days' time.