Without evidence of the involvement of the Russian Federation: what is known about the results of the investigation of the IBU commission against Besseberg

In Russia, they reacted negatively to the conclusions of the commission of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), which found the former president of the organization Anders Besseberg guilty of violating the rules of the organization in connection with the alleged concealment of doping samples of Russians.

According to the head of the St. Petersburg Biathlon Federation, Dmitry Vasiliev, the IBU corruption case will not be the last trial involving the Russian side, since the goal of international organizations is to tarnish the country's reputation by presenting unfounded accusations.

“I think that no one will give us such evidence, and again there will be the usual unfounded accusations, and in this sense nothing good can be expected.

This is just a continuation of such aggression against Russia and one hundred percent Russophobia, nothing else can happen here ... It will get to the point that one of the Russian athletes looks at the pharmacy and is convicted of doping.

Well, this is absurd.

It is clear to me that a clear task was set here - to try to destroy Russia on all fronts, ”Sport24 quotes Vasiliev.

Anfisa Reztsova is in solidarity with Vasiliev's position.

She suggested that it was no coincidence that the commission's report was made public on the eve of the World Cup in order to put additional pressure on the Russians.

In addition, the three-time Olympic champion called on the biathlon authorities to take active steps to protect "an honest and clean name, country and every athlete."

“So much time has passed, even if one of our athletes got caught, he has already suffered his punishment.

Guys, how long can you bother all of us with this business?

I say with irony, as recently: "We are all dopingists, and you are white and fluffy."

Well, how much can you get us!

Are you afraid that we are the strongest power?

This is clear.

But why are they still pouring nasty things on us? ”Reztsova complained.

In turn, the well-known commentator Dmitry Guberniev noted that the IBU should provide more detailed information, since at the moment it is not clear how Besseberg's charges threaten Russia.

“So now everyone will be attracted there again for this case?

There are some cases, for example, but the practice of inviting or not inviting Russians to the Olympics in Pyeongchang shows that everyone was thrown out along with the water.

One size fits all.

I would like to understand whether there will be this moment of collective responsibility.

Show passwords and attendance, maybe we will agree with all of this or disagree, "- quotes Guberniev's words" Championship ".

The two-time Olympic champion Sergei Chepikov also asked about the potential punishment.

According to him, Russia does not hide the existence of problems with doping, but it has already suffered its punishment.

“Where can you punish more?

We don't have an anthem at the World Championships, no flag.

To a greater extent, it is already, apparently, the one who contributed to this concealment is to blame.

If it was the head of the International Federation, then, probably, sanctions will be imposed on him, "Chepikov suggested.

An investigation against Besseberg and ex-IBU Secretary General Nicole Rösch was launched in 2018.

Then it was assumed that they were hiding the results of positive doping tests of Russian biathletes, passed in the period from 2011 to 2017.

In April 2020, law enforcement agencies in Austria and Norway dropped all charges, but an independent commission led by Jonathan Taylor continued to investigate.

In its course, it became clear that Besseberg and Rösch could act in the interests of the Russian side.

In particular, it is assumed that the IBU management did not conduct a full-fledged background check of biathletes, which could reveal positive doping tests.

The involvement of the IBU management is indicated by discrepancies found in the personal expenses of the functionary, which could be paid by the officials.

At the same time, there is no direct evidence that the ex-president of the international union was influenced by the Russian Biathlon Union (RBU) or the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA), which the former head of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory Grigory Rodchenkov insisted on.

The Independent Commission also questioned the testimony of ex-president of the SBR Alexander Tikhonov that he had not contacted Besseberg after 2010.

In addition, according to Rösch, the Russian functionary allegedly tried to bribe her in the 2008/09 season to hide the cases of Albina Akhatova, Ekaterina Yuryeva and Dmitry Yaroshenko.

Tikhonov completely denied suspicions of his involvement in the case.

According to him, at that time Russia had good results in biathlon, so she did not need additional help.

“I told Besseberg from the rostrum that he would end up in disgrace or in prison.

They also used the money intended for the summer biathlon to go to other bank accounts and earn interest.

I am ready to declare this on a lie detector, "Tikhonov told TASS.

The current president of the IBU, Olle Dalin, admitted that he was shocked by the findings of the commission.

He assured that the reforms that have taken place in the organization over the past two years exclude a repetition of the situation.

“We are shocked by the violations described in the report of the independent commission.

But we are grateful to her for finding the evidence and for ensuring that any misconduct in our sport will be punished ... But we will not stop there and will continue to do everything possible to maintain the highest standards in the management of the organization, ”the IBU press service quotes Dalina ...

Now the report will be forwarded to the independent body against doping in biathlon Biathlon Integrity Unit, which will decide on the involvement of Besseberg and Rösch in the scandal.

Until then, both are presumed innocent.

The former head of the IBU himself still denies all the charges.

Lawyer Norbert Wess emphasized that the functionary never acted in the interests of one side, as he was always against doping.

He also added that his client has not received formal charges, and the law enforcement investigation is still pending.

It is worth noting that the involvement of the current head of the SBR, Viktor Maigurov, who served as First Vice President of the IBU from 2014 to 2018, has not been proven either.

At the same time, the investigation discovered new evidence of the use of doping by Russian athletes, cases on which have not yet been opened.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) welcomed the conclusions of the Taylor Commission.

“The information gathered by WADA's Independent Investigation Department gave impetus to this case, and our investigators remained in close contact with the law enforcement agencies of Austria and Norway and the IBU Independent Commission.

We are glad that our work helped the investigation, and we are ready to continue to help them in their work on this case, ”the press service of the organization quotes the words of WADA President Vitod Banki.