Bad business. The International Cycling Union (UCI) quickly dismissed one of its executives, Frenchman Frédéric Magné, director of the World Cycling Center for ten years. Licensed for “ loss of trustworthy ", the former track rider is accused of harassment, abuse of power and of having “ ruled by terror. »
The facts date back to mid-October. They are revealed by theAFP. According to several testimonies, Frédéric Magné was the author for around ten years of acts amounting to systematic moral harassment, among trainee cyclists but also among employees of the World Cycling Center (CMC), located in Aigle, in Swiss. He would also have been guilty of abuse of power and misuse of corporate assets.
Presented as " violent and manipulative”, he maintained his employees “ under pressure by a form of terror”, seeking a submission “ without limits " and threatening them with reprisals.
Aged 50, Frédéric Magné was seven times world track champion, in the 80s and 90s, in keirin and tandem, associated with Fabrice Colas. Since 2009, he has headed the CMC, a high-level training and training center, placed under the control of the UCI.
According to several testimonies, Frédéric Magné exerted continuous pressure and blackmail, going so far as to demand and obtain substantial material compensation from certain employees. He forced them to clean his personal garage, mow his lawn, wash his bike or car and take his children to school. During this time, he would go for a bike ride or other sporting activities with his assistant, who had become his mistress.
Comparable treatment was reserved for runners. Frédéric Magné exercised on them “ a form of permanent discrimination. » African cyclists, victims of racism and systematically demeaned, could not benefit from the same equipment as others. He constantly denigrated them by telling them to “ return to Africa” and showed no respect for Muslims and their dietary requirements. He had sent all African athletes back to their country, under the pretext that an Eritrean had fled from the CMC.
The ex-champion also took particular care of his relationships with powerful and influential people. He is thus suspected of having offered, using CMC funds, custom-made bicycles worth several thousand euros “ to relatives, acquaintances and local and international personalities from the political and sporting world with whom he was very close and with whom he sometimes rode. »
Reached by telephone byAFP, Frédéric Magné declined to comment. His lawyer, Mathieu Blanc, disputes the facts. They maintain that these accusations were “ constituted by people who wish to damage the reputation » from his client. The UCI seems to think the opposite. She showed him the exit.
