L'Équipe reported that Bernard Laporte has been placed in police custody for aggravated tax fraud laundering.
Two other people have also been taken into custody. The case is in the hands of the National Financial Prosecutor and is completely separate from the Laporte-Altrad affair, which emerged in late 2022.
Prosecutors began interrogating Laporte on Tuesday morning "as part of a preliminary investigation opened by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) in August 2020 over suspicions of laundering tax fraud proceeds", the prosecutor's office said.
After being removed from his position as president of the FFR following his conviction on December 13th 2022 for influence peddling, Bernard Laporte is once again caught up in the justice system for other reasons.
Reuters could not immediately reach a lawyer representing Laporte. He previously denied wrongdoing in the December case and said he will appeal.
The French Rugby Federation (FFR) could not immediately be reached for comment.
It is a terrible image for the federation and for the sport, less than a year before the Rugby World Cup in France.