A French sailor has denied accusations of cheating during the last edition of the Vendée Globe, a non-stop solo race around the world.
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“We never cheated,” Clarisse Crémer insisted in a joint statement with husband Tanguy Le Turquais on Thursday.
They were responding to an anonymous email sent to the French sailing federation (FFVoile) on Sunday.
In it, Crémer is accused of using information relayed to her by land-based Le Turquais to help plan her route during the 45,000km race in the 2020/2021 Vendée Globe.
Outside assistance of this nature is strictly prohibited by the rules of the fabulous race, which starts and ends every four years in the French port of Les Sables d’Olonne.
An international jury has been formed to investigate the incident, based on screenshots of WhatsApp conversations between the couple sent to the federation on Sunday when the report was made.
“At no time during our chats, which mostly involved intimacy between the couple, did Tanguy give me any information that I didn’t already know,” Kramer insisted.
The 34-year-old, who sailed her yacht Banque Populaire into 12th place, added: “The conversation with him did not help me change course or make strategic decisions that would have an impact on my race.
“All of my performance decisions are made by me alone and within the rules, without any help.”
The couple, who questioned the motives and timing of their anonymous accusers, were among 44 candidates for the next Vendée Globe, which starts in November, but only 40 were allowed to take part.
They are considering legal action.
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(AFP)