(Reuters) – According to French media reports on Tuesday, Bastien Chalureau, a France lock for Montpellier, has been acquitted of racism by a court of appeal after receiving a prison sentence for violence related to ethnicity in 2020.
In 2020, Chalureau was given a six-month suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of “acts of violence committed because of the victim’s race or ethnicity”.
The Montpellier player, while admitting to acts of violence, denied making racist comments and decided to appeal against the conviction.
According to Le Parisien, Chalureau’s lawyer David Mendel was quoted saying, “Bastien Chalureau’s honour has been cleared.”
Mendel further added, “There were no racist insults in this case. Bastien Chalureau is not proud of the violence he committed, but he’s not racist.”
“It’s been an ordeal that has lasted for several years… I am satisfied for this athlete who, as I speak, is training, will continue to train and progress as he has always done for several years.”
Chalureau had always maintained his innocence against the allegations of racism, especially when he was selected for the Rugby World Cup squad last year, which caused a public outcry.
Last year, a tearful Chalureau had said, “Since the first day I’ve admitted my mistakes but denied racism allegations. I am not a racist.”
He added, “I wanted to come and say it out loud… because it is something that affects also my team and my family.”
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Doha; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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