Four women, including a minor at the time, accuse the rider of rape, sexual abuse and harassment.
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Serious charges. French rider Edouard Mathé was indicted on January 14 for “rape”, “sexual abuse” and “harassment”, the Versailles prosecutor’s office announced to AFP, confirming information from the Sunday newspaper. The 40-year-old rider admits having had sexual relations with the complainants but disputes the lack of consent, according to the prosecution, which entrusted the investigation to the Yvelines research section.
A total of four women, now aged 18, 23, 27 and 35, filed a complaint. One of them was a minor at the time. The young woman was her student and employee until June 2021. Arrived in 2020 when she was 16 years old in the stable, she filed a complaint in November for “sexual abuse of a minor over 15 years old by a person in authority” and “harassment”, according to his lawyer, Nathalie Tomasini.
Banned by the French Riding Federation from participating in competitions after complaints of threats, Edouard Mathé appealed this decision. The hearing will take place on January 28, according to the lawyer. But the rider “continues to train today and is still in contact with young girls, it’s very serious”, explains the lawyer.