French karate, once a powerhouse producing legends like Michael Milon, Gilles Cherdieu, Christophe Pinna, Laurance Fischer and Nathalie Leroy seems to be struggling in the shadows of its former glory. Recent news surrounding the French Karate Federation (FFK) has not only been unpleasant but, in some cases, involves serious legal investigations. Allegations of corruption, financial misconduct, and abuse of power have cast a dark cloud over the sport’s leadership.
I connected to the picturesque village of Cras, nestled in the southeast of France, to meet Sandrine Barbarin, a young lawyer and a dedicated karateka at heart. Her social media posts had caught my attention, and Sandrine, as a member of the French Karate Federation’s Board of Directors, she wasn’t afraid to speak up. Despite the risks, Barbarin insisted that the truth must be told. “I am a karateka before anything else,” she says, her words reflecting both pride and passion. Unlike many, she’s not interested in hiding her identity. “We must stand up and separate right from wrong.”
UNJUSTIFIED ACTIONS BY DIDIER
Barbarin has filed a formal legal complaint against Francis Didier, the current president of the French Karate Federation. I asked her to explain the incident that led to this bold step.
“Francis Didier laid his hands on me and insulted me because I was asking questions about concealed financial transactions between the FFK and the Isère Karate Committee. He essentially tried to intimidate me into silence. I was very surprised by this aggression, which I did not expect from a federal president and a karateka. I was shocked that he could lose his temper in this way. This is why I decided to press charges. Such behavior is unacceptable, and I will not let it go. This incident alone says a lot about the sense of impunity the current president feels in relation to French justice.”
MORE THAN 100,000 EUROS WERE MOVED
Power often corrupts, and those who remain in their positions for too long tend to be involved in scandals. In France, however, financial misconduct is taken seriously, so I asked Barbarin to shed more light on the details behind her legal battle.
“Before becoming a lawyer, I was an inspector for the French Ministry of Labor. Investigating is what I do. It all began when I started asking questions about the Isère Committee’s accounting and received no answers, which was highly suspicious. Francis Didier himself was informed of the situation but chose not to take any action, raising even more suspicion. I was then elected as accounting auditor for the Isère Committee in 2022. However, I faced a firm refusal from the Isère Karate President, Thierry Lombardi, to provide certain account statements, which is both illegal and surprising. Additionally, several abnormal transactions revealed that Lombardi had violated laws and regulations. For example, he invoiced his own karate club through the official committee, raising suspicions of fraud. Eventually, I discovered that more than 100,000 euros had been moved between the Isère Committee and the FFK without any approval or oversight, which is completely illegal. These transactions were not reflected in the accounting records of either the Isère Committee or the FFK. This fund transfer was completely concealed.”
Barbarin continued her investigation for more than two years, uncovering disturbing details about the web of corruption that exists within the French karate structure.
UNLAWFUL CERTIFICATE
“The current president of Isère, Thierry Lombardi, benefited from a rank promotion of convenience. Just before the funds were transferred, he was promoted to 6th dan by Francis Didier, without any exam or review by the national commission, which is also illegal in France. This is a felony, as karate ranks are considered academic degrees and are protected by law in France. Over time, I have received testimonies from individuals about similar situations in other regions of France: concealed accounting, hidden fund transfers, and financial opacity. How many other committees are involved in such misconduct? It’s hard to say. The culture of silence (omertà) is strong, and many officials are bribed or intimidated into silence.”
In this context, I mentioned to Barbarin that these kinds of processes aren’t new to the French Karate Federation. Many reports and stories have come to the public from time to time concerning of Didier’s wife’s ice cream factory being linked to the FFK, to the use of Federation funds for personal apartment rentals in central Paris etc, it’s clear that possible misuse of resources has plagued the leadership. I asked her why the French karate community remains largely silent in the face of such revelations.
CORRUPTION IN THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OF FFK
“Unfortunately, corruption seems rampant in the governance structure. Grades of convenience, favors, financial or non-financial privileges are all too common. The slow pace of French justice and authorities unfortunately benefits those responsible. But the good news is that more and more people are asking questions and speaking up about the opacity in the Federation. The current system is increasingly being challenged, which is promising, especially as we approach the elections for the next president of the FFK.”
Transparency and accountability are becoming more critical as officials continue to confuse public funds with their personal assets. French karate practitioners should be asking themselves some hard questions. At the end of the day, it’s their money possibly being mismanaged. Barbarin’s bold efforts to shine a light in this apparent maladministration and possible corruption serve as a rallying cry for those who want change in the sport. But how many will dare to follow her lead?
