Pierre-Charles Boudot case moves a step closer to resolution after prosecution requests court appearance

The long-running legal proceedings that have kept former French champion jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot on the sidelines for more than four years have taken a potentially important step forward after prosecutors sent the case back to the presiding judge with their recommendations. 

Should the judge follow the lead of the prosecution then Boudot could be summoned within the next few months before a criminal court in Senlis, north of Paris. 

Boudot was first suspended in May 2021 after being arrested on a charge of rape, the alleged incident dating from February 17 the same year during the winter meeting at Cagnes-sur-Mer.

Initially his licence was suspended by France Galop in the interests of protecting the image of racing and, since November 2022, that suspension has been maintained at the request of the interior ministry on behalf of the police. 

While the Arc-winning rider has been free to ride work for a variety of different trainers, he had been denied a licence to participate in races until February of this year when authorities in Qatar issued him with emergency leave to ride in the face of a walkout by a large contingent of foreign-based jockeys over safety concerns at the Al Rayyan track. 

Pierre-Charles Boudot was back in winning action in Qatar in FebruaryCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The permission to ride granted in Qatar did not lead to any alleviation of the conditions surrounding Boudot's licence in France, while other jurisdictions have continued to reciprocate his suspension. 

The prosecution initially examined two separate allegations against Boudot – one dating from 2015 which it has chosen to dismiss – and has sent the dossier for the second back to the judge with the recommendation that a court date be set. 

The judge has the option to accept or deny both recommendations from the prosecution and has the power to dismiss the charges altogether. If the judge chooses to proceed with full court proceedings, Boudot's case would be heard in front of five special magistrates. 

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