Team Total Energy (open in new tab) has defended their lack of action in the domestic violence case of Alexandre Jenyes (open in new tab). Team boss Jean-Rene Bernadeau said in an exclusive interview with Cycling News that his riders are "powerless" to appeal the verdict.

Last week, Genies was found guilty in court (open in new tab) and given a suspended four-month prison sentence, but Bernaudeau said that the fact that he is appealing means that the sentence has effectively been "nullified" or "postponed."

Berneudeau repeatedly cited French law as the reason for the team's stance, or lack thereof.

The professional rider contracts of French teams are structured differently than those of many foreign teams, where the rider is considered an employee with full employment rights, while in some other teams the rider is technically a contractor.

Therefore, team bosses argued that they could not even impose a provisional suspension for fear of the repercussions in the event that Jényes was pardoned.

Still, the team's inaction and silence - except for a vague statement that makes no mention of Jeniese - raises questions about the seriousness of its handling of domestic violence.

In an interview with Cycling News, Bernaudeau addressed this issue for the first time. A transcript of the interview follows.

Cycling News First of all, I want to understand why the team is not taking action against Alexandre Jenyes.

Jean-Rene Bernadeau: The fight for women's rights is a priority for us. I knew that Alexandre had been tried and convicted by his partner. He called me, depressed and crying a lot, saying, 'I'm appealing the verdict. In France, if you appeal, the verdict will be annulled or postponed, so the verdict will come out later this year.

So today, Alexandre Genies has not yet been convicted because he appealed. So for me, as his employer under French law, he is still awaiting sentencing.

CN: So there is nothing you can do at this point.

JRB: If Alexandre Jenyes does not appeal, the ruling is conclusive and we will impose sanctions immediately and forthwith. Now we await the appeal and will decide if the initial finding is final.

CN: Can the team temporarily suspend Jenyes or put him on the sideline while this is going on?

JRB: By law, nothing more can be done. Officially, Alexandre is not suspended. It is true that at this point we are keeping him at home to give him time to digest and understand this matter. It's serious. The accusations are serious. But today, legally, he has the right to race.

CN: But theoretically we should be able to agree with him and settle it with a suspension.

JRB: We could if he agrees, but that's something we haven't discussed yet. If we hypothesize that the outcome will be overturned on appeal, he can pursue us as the employer. That's the way the law works.

CN: Do you understand the damage this could do to the team's image and in terms of the message about the seriousness of domestic violence?

JRB: Women's rights are a priority for us. We can't say anything because the decision is not yet final. We will be at a disadvantage. We are waiting. We have no choice. The reaction on social media has been bad, but on social media everyone is a judge in a court of law. That's the way it is. I can do nothing. I am powerless. The law is the law and we respect the law very much.

CN: What if the conviction is upheld on appeal?

JRB: If we are convicted... We would not tolerate that. If they are guilty, there is no doubt that they will be sanctioned.

CN: What would that be--suspension, contract termination .......

JRB: I don't know. If confirmed, it would be very serious and there would be appropriate sanctions. But the law is the law and we respect the law.

CN: What did Aleksandr say to you?

JRB: He called me five minutes after he came out of the courthouse crying. He was crying a lot. He was devastated. He was depressed. His relationship with his partner was not going well and had not been for some time. That's all I can say.

CN: What happens next?

JRB: He wants to fight this. He is appealing. He is preparing a defense.

CN: Is there a race in his program?

JRB: He is not in a race for the time being. First of all, because he is not in a good psychological state. I would like to discuss this calmly, but legally he has no right to do anything.

CN: Does he want to continue racing?

JRB: I talked to him for 5 minutes and we didn't talk about the race. He was in tears and in no condition to race in that condition. It was too recent. We have to take some time before we talk about it.

CN: The team made a statement about the domestic violence, but did not mention this or Alexandre Jenyes' name. Why?

JRB: Because there is nothing more I can do. I am the employer, the sponsor is the sponsor, and the press release was based on legal facts. If you do more than that - even you, even if Cycling News wrote that he was convicted and exonerated by the appeals court, he can go after you and he will win - that's for sure. That's the law.

CN: What is your timescale?

JRB: That's a matter for the court, they have a lot of cases, but I don't know what the timescale is. I hope it is sooner than later. I would like to know the decision on the appeal so that we can take appropriate action.