Fiona Ferro came out of the silence.
Two days after the revelation of the indictment of her former coach Pierre Bouteyre, the French tenniswoman recalled in a press release the content of her accusations of "rape" and "sexual assault".
“I confirm that I did not consent and that the rapes and sexual assaults were committed by moral constraint according to article 222-24 of the Penal Code.
I place all my trust in the justice system of my country and confirm that I do not want to make any other declaration on the criminal investigation procedure.
Thank you very much to all those who show me their support in this difficult but necessary stage, ”said the player, 259th in the world at the WTA.
She had filed a complaint on February 25 at the police station in Fréjus (Var) for alleged acts of rape and sexual assault committed from 2012 to 2015, when she was aged 15 to 18.
Pierre Bouteyre was indicted on August 19 for "rape" and "sexual assault" after a complaint filed by the young woman in February.
He "recognizes the materiality of the relationship but denies any constraint, it was a love story according to him", indicated his lawyer, Me Virginie Pin, joined by AFP.
The coach and former player was placed under judicial supervision with a ban on contact with Fiona Ferro and on training minors, along with the obligation to submit to psychological care, the prosecutor said.
pic.twitter.com/Vnb1S9cRKS
— Fiona Ferro (@fioferro) September 2, 2022
Mr. Bouteyre "was Fiona Ferro's private coach", explained the player's lawyer.
"He accompanied him during tournaments which often took place abroad," added Me Colombani, who was also the lawyer for two victims of another tennis coach, Régis de Camaret, convicted in 2014 on appeal. to ten years in prison for rape of minors by the Court of Assizes of Var.
Alizée Cornet and Caroline Garcia, both qualified for the third round of the US Open, insisted on coming to the support of their comrade.
The first, who was trained by Pierre Bouteyre for more than ten years, knows that she will be heard by the police as a witness.
“I do what I have to do.
As part of the investigation, I'm being asked and it's not like I can negotiate with the police, she said on Friday.
Courage to Fiona.
We are with her, we love her and all the girls in the locker room think of her very much.
I hope she can move on with her life when this is over.
»