The swimmer was detained on suspicion of rape and sexual assault at his residence in Paris on Thursday and taken into police custody in Mulhouse, eastern France.
At a news conference, Mulhouse public prosecutor Edwige Roux-Morizot said he recognizes the gravity of the claims against him, adding that the swimmer did not feel any compulsion.
The prosecution claimed that the events constituted rape or sexual assault because of the large age gap between him and the complainant, whom she identified as Naome Horter, one of Agnel’s coach Lionel Horter’s children.
? L’ancien nageur Yannick Agnel, double champion olympique, a été interpellé dans le cadre d’une information judiciaire ouverte pour des faits supposés de viol sur mineur. Il a été placé en garde à vue.https://t.co/sn26Nodrqo
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) December 9, 2021
Meanwhile, on Monday, the French Swimming Federation stated that it would file a legal lawsuit in the issue.
The Federation has been informed of Mr. Agnel’s acknowledgment of the substance of the charges against him.
The Federation has formally decided to become a civil party before the Mulhouse judicial court, which the Federation strongly opposes.
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