"Absolutely scary", for the Norwegian Vetle Christiansen at the microphone of the NRK, "worthy of Hollywood", according to Frédéric Jean, coach of the French women's team, or even "a heartbreak", for Quentin Fillon-Maillet , leader of French biathletes.

Words abound in Pokljuka, Slovenia, where the biathlon worlds begin on Wednesday February 10, to express the shock felt after the evidence exposed on the questionable practices of the former president of the international federation (IBU), from 1992 to 2018.

"Protecting the interests of Russia beyond all rationality"

Anders Besseberg is accused, along with its managing director Nicole Resch, of having for years "consistently protected the interests of Russia, far beyond all rationality."

More concretely, the president of the IBU at the time would have concealed many cases of Russian doping, campaigned for Russia's participation in the PyeongChang Olympics in 2018 despite the institutionalized doping scandal then in progress, and used all his influence for the organization of the 2021 Worlds to be entrusted to Russia, since withdrawn as part of the doping sanctions.

The Norwegian, who resigned his post as president in April 2018, would have received in exchange several luxury watches, money, travel and benefited from all-expense paid hunting trips, as well as prostitute services.

He did not wish to react to the charges of the IBU, this case being also pending on the criminal level.

"How is it possible ?"

The French biathletes selected for these Worlds unanimously deplore these practices.

Thus, Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet admits to having laughed yellow while going through the report: "How is it possible to let such enormous things go by? It's absurd, incredible ... I hope that with this report, the will of the IBU is to clearly make things better ".

Feelings shared by his compatriot Quentin Fillon-Maillet: "Even if we were already a little aware, it breaks my heart. We must continue to fight for a cleaner sport. Show that it is possible to perform without doping. I am not pointing fingers at anyone but I find it really unfortunate for our sport. "

Few anti-doping controls

The two French are also surprised to have undergone very few controls this year outside of competitions, unlike last year.

An impression confirmed by Émilien Jacquelin: "This year, I was not tested before the Worlds, against twice last year. I find that strange, but the IBU guarantees us that they do as many controls ... to the investigation report, I hope it turns the page of a bygone era ".

Turning the page and showing sincere anti-doping efforts were certainly the aims of the IBU with the publication of this independent investigation.

We must now wait for the decision of the Biathlon Integrity Unit, as well as those of the Norwegian and Austrian courts, to know the sanctions that will be taken against Anders Besseberg and Nicole Resch.

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