Scandal: French athlete suspended for a bet
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3 Feb 2026 •
Reading time: 2 minutes In an unprecedented case, a top French athlete has been sanctioned for placing a sports bet on a competition in her sport.
A French champion in turmoil
Aurore Fleury was no stranger to the world of athletics: twice French champion in the 1,500 m, she had distinguished herself on national and European tracks, but had not taken part in the Olympic Games. But it was off the track that her career took an unexpected turn.
According to the decision published by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the body responsible for enforcing World Athletics’ code of integrity, Fleury bet on the victory of her compatriot Alice Finot in the 3,000 m steeplechase final at the European Athletics Championships in Rome on 9 June 2024.
The bet paid off, as Finot emerged victorious from the event, but the rules are clear and strict: any bet linked to an athletics competition, even without the bettor’s direct involvement in the event, is prohibited for athletes.
A rule of integrity in the face of the temptation of betting
The World Athletics authorities and the AIU point out that the integrity of sport depends on public confidence in the outcome of competitions. Allowing participants to bet on events related to their discipline – even without manipulating the outcome – introduces a perceived risk of conflict of interest.
In this context, the AIU considered that Fleury’s action constituted a breach of the rules on competition manipulation, even though there was no evidence that she had attempted to influence the outcome or corrupt the spirit of the event.
The sanction and its objectives
The penalty imposed on Aurore Fleury is twofold:
- A six-month suspension, which will keep her away from competitions until March 2026.
- A fine, the amount of which has been set at the equivalent of the profits made from the bet. This sum must be donated to charity.
Fleury will also have to undergo training on the prevention of manipulation of competitions, indicated as an additional educational measure in the AIU’s decision.
The Aurore Fleury case will no doubt go down in history as a turning point in the fight against the impact of sports betting on the integrity of individual sport.