Didier Seminet Withdraws from CNOSF Presidency Race Amid Accusations

Didier Seminet has officially withdrawn his candidacy for the presidency of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), citing allegations of political pressure and a lack of neutrality in the election process. Seminet, who leads the French Baseball and Softball Federation, made the announcement via a Facebook post, where he expressed concerns over what he described as a 'manifest inequity' in the election framework, particularly regarding the two candidates involved.

In his statement, Seminet outlined thirteen specific concerns, four of which he claims could have criminal implications. He criticized the CNOSF's ethics committee, stating that they had failed to publicly address these serious issues, thus undermining their role in ensuring a fair electoral process. He stated, "The absence of a public stance from the ethics committee significantly impacts its credibility and effectiveness." Seminet's withdrawal also cleared the path for Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the former Minister of Sports, to become the uncontested candidate for the presidency.

Cédric Gosse, the president of the triathlon federation and another candidate, also withdrew from the race to support Oudéa-Castéra, further consolidating her position. This development comes as the CNOSF seeks to stabilize its leadership after a turbulent period marked by the resignation of former president Brigitte Henriques and ongoing challenges in governance. David Lappartient has been serving as interim president since 2023 during this crisis.