“Mr. Gailhaguet, your defense did not move me. Your unworthiness, yes. It was February 5, 2020. A week after the rape accusations of Sarah Abitbol against her former trainer Gilles Beyer, Damien Boyer-Gibaud splits a platform in Ouest-France.
The president of the Angers ice dance club denounces the "cynicism" of the leader of the French Federation of Ice Sports (FFSG), who then refuses to give in to the resignation requests of the Ministry of Sports. Three weeks later, Damien Boyer-Gibaud is one of the five candidates for the succession of the former pope of French skating who threw in the towel. But in turn sees voices rise against his balance sheet.
The point of tension, revealed by L'Équipe Tuesday, the most important concerns Paméla Cochard, coach and ex-employee of the Angers club. In 2017, shortly after her election, the new president of the structure offered to sign an addendum to her employment contract, signed in September 1999, to change the number of hours she must work. The technician refuses.
After months of exchange and an interview, the method of which is denounced by the interested party, Paméla Cochard is placed on sick leave, then declared unfit for resumption of work within the association, she drags her former president to the prud men, accusing him of "moral harassment".
"Because of him, I lost confidence in myself"
“He often came to check on what we were doing at the rink, said white one day and black the next and sent me texts and emails in the evenings and weekends. He validated schedules, then changed everything, she explains to the Parisian. I shut myself in, I felt like everyone was against me. Because of him, I lost confidence in myself. "
The club was condemned in November to pay more than 20,000 euros in compensation to that which it dismissed in April 2019. But if it recognizes "abusive solicitations from the employer outside working hours", "the breach of prevention rules in terms of safety at work "and" delay in the payment of wages ", he dismisses Paméla Cochard's request for moral prejudice.
"We had an almost friendly relationship, it became strained and certain exchanges were used as part of this procedure," stresses Damien Boyer-Gibaud. I wanted to regularize a situation that was not in order and I accept it. "" My client is paying for the old management of the association, Judge Philippe Goupille, his counsel. The decision is acceptable. Now let's follow the rest of the procedure. "
Call in progress
Not satisfied with the amount of damages she considers too low, Paméla Cochard has decided to appeal and is studying the possibility of filing a criminal complaint for moral harassment. In parallel, several people, including parents who have children in the Angevin club, criticized the management of Damien Boyer-Gibaud. "I have a certificate where the former president describes him as a toxic personality," continues Ms. Chouquet-Maisonneuve.
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"I tell those who want to bring him to the presidency of the FFSG to be wary of him," continues Paméla Cochard. We know what we lost with Didier Gailhaguet. We do not know what we gain with him ... "" This story does not handicap my candidacy, judge Damien Boyer-Gibaud, who wants to establish an independent ethics committee at the FFSG. It is even rather an asset. It shows that I am ready to rectify a number of things. "
Four other people are candidates for the presidency of the FFSG. Former skater Nathalie Péchalat, former speed skater Marc Bella, former President of the Federal Council Hubert Godefroy and Marie-Reine Le Gougne. A former judge, she was removed from office after being suspected of favoring a Russian couple at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.