"We will carry out a thorough investigation": the IBU accused four Russian biathletes in the use of doping

"Four athletes broke the rules"

On the charges against four Russian biathletes, the SBR officially reported on its website. The Union did not name the names of athletes suspected of using illegal drugs, but stressed that all of them are currently unrelated to the Russian national team, and three have completed their careers altogether.

"The RRF intends to conduct a thorough trial both in relation to athletes, and in relation to their personal trainers. The results of the investigation will be reported later. Within 14 days, athletes must decide whether they will challenge the conclusions of the WADA commission and take appropriate legal action. After that, the RRF will have the right to announce their names, "the statement said.

A little later this information was confirmed in the International Union of Biathlonists.

"The Russian Biathlon Union and four athletes who represent him have violated the anti-doping rules. The RRF and the athletes' data have 14 days to respond to the notification. If the anti-doping rule violation is not recognized, the cases will be officially transferred to the IBU anti-doping panel, "the organization's statement reads.

In various sources, the names of biathletes began to appear instantly, which could get into the ill-fated four. Even the name of Anton Shipulin was mentioned. However, according to the latest information, the IBU has no claims to the strongest biathlonist of the country in recent years.

Soon the media announced the full composition of the four: Eugene Ustyugov, Svetlana Sleptsova, Alexander Chernyshev and Alexander Pechyonkin.

Of these athletes, the most famous is the two-time Olympic champion Ustyugov, who retired four years ago. Eugene WADA already had questions. In April, it became known that the World Anti-Doping Agency initiated an investigation into Ustyugov because of abnormal indicators in blood tests since 2010. Perhaps, just after his results, the IBU could bring charges against the Russian. He himself stated that he received no documents from the Union.

"So far, I do not know anything about this topic. Why did suspicions appear now, four years after the end of his career? Samples are kept for eight years, they have the right to open at any time, "Ustyugov quotes the" Championship. "

No less known is Sleptsova. In 2010, Svetlana became Olympic Champion, and a year earlier - World Champion. She also won six victories in the World Cup stages. The sportswoman finished her career in 2017.

Wolfgang Pichler, former head coach of the Russian women's biathlon team, which included Sleptsova, declined to comment on the information on her entry into the IBU list.

Pechenkin for a long time was considered one of the most talented young Russian biathlonists. Alexander won a number of victories in the world championships among boys and girls, and also won the gold of the adult European championship in 2015. However, Perm's further career was limited to participation in several World Cup races.

The least known of the four mentioned is Chernyshov. His highest achievement was the gold of the junior championship of the planet. In the future, the athlete limited himself to participation in the IBU Cup and European Championships.

"We are waiting for answers, then we will act"

The RRF admitted that they do not yet know which line of conduct they choose in the current situation.

"Now the RRF will coordinate all actions. We are waiting for answers, then we will act. I can not give any estimates so far. Because we ourselves do not know anything, we just got this information. In the RRF, of course, they know the names of all four biathletes, but this is confidential information. We received it just now, "- said the head of the SBR, Vladimir Drachev.

His deputy Sergei Chepikov hopes that this is a "long-standing case".

"Based on the letter of the IBU, some biathletes have already tied up with great sport. We all need to wait for more accurate data. On September 5, the IBU congress will take place, where I will also attend, more detailed information should appear there, "Chepikova quotes Sport-Express.

"There can be a powerful disqualification"

And the famous commentator Dmitry Guberniev had an emotional reaction.

"Four more athletes are suspected of violating anti-doping rules. Surnames are loud. "Never such was, and again" - Viktor Chernomyrdin ", - wrote Guberniev in his Instagram.

Later, the commentator complained that the current situation could have a very negative impact on the Russian biathlon and seriously reduce the chances for the restoration of the status of the RRF in the near future.

"On the one hand, we were ready, because before important events, there always comes a bad story for us. But on the other hand, we must understand what this threatens us. After all, we need to restore the status of the SBR. Now it will be difficult to do, to put it mildly. And we can imagine what will happen to the team. I while driving away from myself thoughts, that there can be a powerful disqualification. But the situation can unfold, up to individual tolerances. People who did not perform at the Olympics, can experience another serious stress, "- said Guberniev.

However, the president of the Biathlon Federation of Latvia, the candidate for the post of the head of the International Biathlon Union, Baiba Broca, reassured the Russian fans, noting that if it is an old violation, there can be no sanctions against the RRF.

"If these are doping cases that were in the past, they are unlikely to affect anything. In this case, they already served as one of the grounds for punishing the RRF. I repeat that the main thing in the process of restoration is the fulfillment of conditions. Then the RRF will have all the grounds for restoration. However, it can not be ruled out that new information about anti-doping violations by Russian athletes in the past will come out. The investigation continues, "- quotes the words of" Sport-Express ".

She did not see anything strange in the fact that this information appeared just before the IBU Congress, which will decide the fate of the RRF.

"Let's not have emotions. From the legal point of view, I do not see any contradictions in this. The investigation has been completed, the parties concerned have been notified. There is a certain procedure. It is clear that this is an additional reason for discussing the whole situation at the congress, and personally I will ask the members of the IBU Anti-Doping Commission for more information on this case, "Broca added.