This is a new episode in the internal war that is playing out within the French Federation of Ice Sports. According to our information, the body was the victim of a data theft on May 5. All the lists of licensees were allegedly downloaded by former members of the executive board who then flooded them with vindictive emails. The Federation has lodged a complaint with the competent authorities. It is in fact a power struggle within an institution shaken by scandals and settling of scores in recent years.
After allowing the return of Didier Gailhaguet, the former president forced to resign on February 8, 2020 after the revelations about sexual abuse in skating, Gwenaëlle Noury, the current boss, elected in June 2022 against Nathalie Péchalat, seems determined to distance herself from him. While the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa Castéra has engaged in a mission of the General Inspectorate of Education, Sport and Research (IGESR), in particular to shed light on the current management of the French skating federation and to determine the influence exerted by Didier Gailhaguet, Gwenaëlle Noury seeks to cut all ties with him to save his position. It had already dismissed six members deemed close to the former leader, including Brian Joubert, the former champion who became president of the figure skating section.
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As Le Parisien revealed on October 24, 2022, Didier Gailhaguet had worked to allow Gwenaëlle Noury to take control last year. Long remained in the shadows, Gailhaguet was back in the light at the beginning of November in Angers on the occasion of the Grand Prix of France where he appeared during the protocol, before being officially accredited by the French Federation for the Grand Prix of Turin, in December. A return to business not really to the taste of the Ministry of Sports which pushed the president to make a clean place. This change of course was not appreciated by everyone. "The president of the FFSG takes herself for Putin," lashed out on May 6 in our columns Pierre Baudouin, the coach of the Bordeaux skating club, after the purge carried out within the executive board.
"I did not imagine finding such a catastrophic and corrupt universe, said Gwenaëlle Noury on May 12 on the Obs website. I discovered that people wanted a return to the governance of the last 25 years. Didier Gailhaguet quickly showed the will to lead the federation. It became very oppressive, especially since it was supported by a whole network, including some members of the executive board and the federal council identified. I had to be his puppet. There was intimidation, blackmail, red lines were crossed. The six people who were dismissed were dismissed because they defended this system and wanted to see it back in control. »