2017 IAAF World Championships

Pierre-Ambroise Bosse Attacker Alleges The World Champ Threw Beer Can First

Pierre-Ambroise Bosse Attacker Alleges The World Champ Threw Beer Can First

The man who attacked world 800m champion Pierre-Ambroise Bosse this summer claims that the track star first threw a beer can at him in an unprovoked act of violence.

Sep 22, 2017 by Johanna Gretschel
Pierre-Ambroise Bosse Attacker Alleges The World Champ Threw Beer Can First
The 24-year-old man accused of assaulting Pierre-Ambroise Bosse outside a French casino this summer has himself filed a claim against the world 800m champion.

The aggressor alleges that an unprovoked Bosse threw a beer can at his face, and it was only after this random act of violence that he attacked the track star. 

Of these new allegations, Bosse said, "Ridiculous, that's all," to French media outlet Sud Ouest. "The procedure is underway and I trust in justice." 

The incident occurred on August 27 at 4 AM in the parking lot of a casino in Gujan-Mestras in the south of France, where Bosse was on vacation following his world victory. According to the Bosse's version of events, a group of men approached him for an autograph. Upon completion of the request, he got into his vehicle and was slapped through the window by the men. They proceeded to brutalize the middle-distance runner, leaving him with facial fractures that ultimately resulted in 18 days of total incapacity for work (ITT). Bosse told French media that he nearly lost use of one of his eyes.


"The trigger was the beer can being thrown," said lawyer Arnaud Dupin, adding he didn't know why Bosse "had targeted my client".

The suspect is a former rugby player with one leg. He has a criminal record for possession of narcotics.

A month after the attack, Bosse says he's ready to put the drama in the past.

"I'm in the future . . . I turned the page on this aggression," Bosse said. "Now, I am in other things, and I'm going to start back on my training as I know to do it."