Olympic Champion Teddy Riner Loses Tax Appeal Over Luxury Vehicles

French judo champion Teddy Riner has lost his legal battle against the French tax authorities regarding the personal use of luxury vehicles belonging to his rental company, Pullman Limousine. The Administrative Court of Appeals of Versailles upheld a previous decision by the Cergy-Pontoise Administrative Tribunal, confirming that the athlete utilized high-end cars for private purposes without generating corresponding business revenue during the 2016 and 2017 tax years.

The ongoing dispute centers around a tax adjustment initially triggered in 2019 by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, commonly known as Bercy. Tax inspectors targeted several luxury automobiles, including a Ferrari, a Rolls-Royce, and a Bentley, alleging that Riner received hidden benefits totaling 289,000 euros. According to court findings, certain vehicles were parked in individual closed garages near the applicants' homes rather than with the rest of the company fleet.

During the appellate proceedings, legal counsel for the company argued that Riner's demanding schedule as a five-time Olympic champion did not leave him the leisure to drive the three disputed prestige vehicles. Furthermore, the defense attributed the lack of rentals in 2017 to a difficult geopolitical context following terrorist attacks that kept foreign clientele away.

However, the court remained unconvinced by these arguments. The magistrates ruled that Riner could not have been unaware that the company was covering personal expenses to systematically lower its taxable income. The court determined that the athlete acted with a deliberate intention to reduce his tax obligations.

The judges emphasized that the expenses were not incurred for business operations matching the company's stated purpose. Instead, the vehicles functioned as hidden remuneration and advantages for Riner, who was identified as the exclusive driver for at least two of the automobiles in question.

Neither the athlete nor his legal representatives have issued a public response to the appellate court ruling. The decision marks a definitive setback for the sports star in a financial dispute that has spanned several years and scrutinized the intersection of personal assets and corporate luxury fleets.