The French Sailing Federation (FFVoile) had opened two disciplinary procedures, one in June and another at the beginning of August, against French skipper Kévin Escoffier. The sailor, who notably won the Transat Jacques-Vabre 2005, as well as the Jules-Verne Trophy in 2012, was accused of “inappropriate behavior” towards women. According to The Parisian and the AFP, the FFVoile decided to suspend Escoffier from competitions for eighteen months.
The daily indicates that in addition to this sanction, Kévin Escoffier is also sentenced to “a provisional withdrawal of his license for five years suspended as well as a ten-year ineligibility for the governing bodies of the FFVoile”. The navigator has seven days to appeal.
Facts “related to sexual assault”
Kévin Escoffier is also the target of a legal investigation for identical facts that occurred in May in the United States during a race stopover. It was opened at the beginning of July by the Paris prosecutor’s office against the 43-year-old sailor after an initial report made by the FFVoile for facts “related to sexual assault”, according to a source close to the case, reported AFP .
“After analysis of the first elements, the brigade for the suppression of delinquency against people was contacted,” said the prosecution. In mid-June, the Chained Duck had reported the testimony of several people describing “repeated slip-ups” of the Breton navigator towards women.