French marathon runner Morhad Amdouni sentenced to 10 months in prison with suspended probation for domestic violence

French marathon record holder Morhad Amdouni was sentenced on Monday to ten months in prison with suspended probation by the Meaux criminal court for having assaulted his wife in front of their child at their home in Serris, Seine-et-Marne, in September 2024. In addition to his two-year suspended probation, which comes into effect immediately even in the event of an appeal, the athlete is also prohibited from having contact with his wife and from appearing at her home for three years.

On September 18, 2024, an argument broke out between the couple, whose relations had been strained since the discovery a few weeks earlier of the husband's infidelity, leading to a divorce request from the wife. In the 32-year-old woman's account, it was when she told him that he "wasn't a man" that the physical violence began. "He really strangled me, he pinned me against the storage door. He was so angry, he was like a devil. I started moving with my hands and feet, I started screaming," the woman recounted, miming hands tightening. She was released, tried to escape but "he pulled me by the feet, by the neck, to go to the bedroom."

Their six-year-old son leaves his room, the violence stops. To investigators, he will tell that he has already seen his father with his hands "on mom's neck" . Morhad Amdouni's mother and brother, present at the home, reported an argument but no physical violence. Four days of temporary work interruption (ITT) were prescribed, taking into account a significant hematoma on the back of the arm and scratches on the sternum. During their intervention, the police noticed redness on the neck.

The 36-year-old athlete gave a completely different story, swearing that he had never been violent. According to him, his wife was in a fit of rage. "I was trying to hold her to calm her down. I felt guilty about this betrayal," Morhad Amdouni explained, his voice trembling. "I am prey for her," he then accused. "She took revenge ," "Madame is very intelligent." In her submissions, prosecutor Louise Sahali criticized "the absolute indecency towards the victim. She is being completely demonized."

"This is a question of reputation for Mr. Amdouni, not a question of reflection, of questioning," she insisted, considering that "guilt was not in doubt" in view of the photographs and the reports of the forensic unit. Following the statements of the wife reporting forced sexual intercourse, a preliminary investigation is underway.