Racist abuse of French judo star Teddy Riner investigated after he spoke about rise of far right

Paris public prosecutor opens investigation into online harassment of Riner, one of France’s most popular sportspeople

Paris’s public prosecutor has opened an investigation into the racist abuse and online harassment of the French judo star Teddy Riner after he expressed concern about the rise of the far right.

Riner, who has often been voted France’s most popular sportsperson and is one of the most successful judo competitors of all time, told a TV sports show this month that he felt “anxiety” about the rise of the far right in France. Numerous racist insults and hate messages were subsequently directed at him online, the prosecutor’s office said.