Former Olympic swimming champion Yannick Agnel is set to stand trial in France over charges of rape and sexual assault against a minor.
The public prosecutor's office in Colmar has requested the trial take place as Agnel, who was born in Nimes, was an adult at the time of the alleged offences.
Those offences are alleged to have taken place in 2016, when Agnel was 24 and the girl was 13.
They are alleged to have occurred in multiple locations, including in Rio de Janeiro during that year's Olympics.
He has 10 days to appeal the public prosecutor's decision at the Court of Cassation, which is France's highest court.
His legal representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment when approached by Associated Press (AP).
The case against Agnel dates back to December 2021, when he was arrested at his home in Paris and placed in police custody after a complaint was made against him.
Agnel admitted to a relationship with the girl, whom prosecutors state is the daughter of Agnel's former coach, but denied that there was any coercion involved.
He was indicted by the Mulhouse public prosecutor on charges of rape of a minor under the age of 15, alongside being prosecuted for sexual assault of a minor under the age of 15.
In 2021, French authorities established the minimum age of consent as 15, with any act of penetration by an adult to a minor under the age of 15 punishable by a penalty of 20 years in prison.
An act of sexual assault, meanwhile, is punishable by a penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine.
Agnel won two gold medals at the London 2012 Olympics, in the 100-metre and 4x100m relay events.
He is also a three-time world champion across short course and long course events.
In 2013, Agnel was made a Knight (Chevalier) of France's Legion D'honneur - the nation's highest decoration for public service or merit.
He retired from competitive swimming in 2016 after competing at the Rio 2016 Olympics, stating that it was 'time to sail on to other horizons'.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England & Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or need urgent medical attention, you should call 999.
Ryan Smart