It smells scorched for Anders Besseberg.

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Lee Jin-man / AP / SIPA

An absolutely destructive report for the image of biathlon and Anders Bessegerg, the almighty former boss of the International Federation.

The special commission set up by his successor has just delivered its verdict after two years of work, during which more than 60 people were interviewed.

The result ?

Under the presidency of Besseberg, the international biathlon federation "has shown no interest in ethical values ​​or the protection of this sport against doping".

The Norwegian, forced to resign in 2018 after the first revelations of collusion, is also accused of having covered Russia in all possible and imaginable ways: "He has consistently protected the interests of Russia in all his actions and speaking, well beyond all rationality ”.

A "translator" to accompany her in Russia

In detail, according to the

New York Times

 : Bessebger, president of the IBU since 1992, would have directly contributed to hiding several cases of doping of Russian athletes, and even to make sure that a syringe full of EPO found during a World Cup event is thrown in the trash without further investigation, with the help of the number 2 of the Federation, Nicole Resch.

It must be said that Besseberger was particularly well treated by his hosts when he came to Russia: gifts under the pillow, hunts organized in the good franquette to please this fan of rifle, and even prostitutes who sometimes waited in his hotel room.

Three gold medals for Russia on average at the Winter Olympics

"Everyone knew in the early circles of the International Federation that the president was accompanied by a young" translator "for all his stays in Russia," said the report, which adds that the former boss of the IBU would have touched at least $ 200,000 in bribes from Russia while he was in office.

A few weeks before his departure, he still toured the executive committee of his Federation to explain that Russian biathletes were clean and that they should in no case be excluded from the Pyongyang Winter Olympics.

During his reign, except 2018, Russia has always won at least three Olympic gold medals.

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  • Biathlon

  • Doping

  • Russia

  • Sport