16 May 2008 - 16H25
Former Manaudou coach under investigation
Philippe Lucas was taken into custody on Friday after being questioned in Melun, where he used to train Olympic swimming champion Laure Manaudou. Under investigation for theft and forgery, he claims innocence.
PARIS - Philippe Lucas, former coach of Olympic swimming champion Laure Manaudou, is under investigation for theft and forgery, a judicial source said on Friday.
Lucas, who now coaches Romania's Camelia Potec, signed checks for himself from his former club's funds when he left in 2006, according to the source.
"He was questioned yesterday and put in custody," the source said.
Lucas, who started to work with Manaudou when she was 14 at the Melun club in Paris, was released by police on Friday but remains on probation.
He told Reuters on Friday that he signed checks of 5,000 euros ($7,739) and 20,000 euros ($30,950) made out to himself as payment for bonuses the French federation and the Melun club owed him.
In August 2006, Lucas left the club with Manaudou to train in Canet-en-Roussillon in the south of France.
Manaudou left for Italy the following year and after breaking up with Italian swimmer Luca Marin, came back to France. She now is under the guidance of Lionel Horter at the Mulhouse club as she prepares for the Beijing Olympic Games.
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