“In order not to put the risk of humiliation”: RRF announced its refusal to participate in further stages of the KM in biathlon

"Direct discrimination against our country and Russian athletes"

The current international season ended ahead of schedule for Russian biathletes.

This decision was made by the RBU in response to restrictions from the IBU.

The day before, the international federation announced what measures they would take in connection with the conduct of a special operation in Ukraine.

They turned out to be extremely tough in relation to the Russians and Belarusians.

Firstly, in the IBU, Russians and Belarusians were banned from using the flags of countries at the stages of the World Cup and the second most important tournament - the IBU Cup.

Secondly, national anthems should not be played, and uniforms should not contain the colors of the flags.

And most importantly, their performance will not count towards the Cups of Nations and relay races.

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That is, in fact, biathletes from Russia and Belarus would have to act in a neutral status and represent themselves in the races, but not their states.

To some extent, the IBU verdict did not come as a surprise, because the IOC had previously recommended that international federations do the same.

In particular, he was supported by the International Ski Federation (FIS), which forbade the Russians to compete under their own flag.

However, in the RRF, such requirements were considered unreasonable and categorically unacceptable - the organization announced its refusal to participate in the remaining competitions until the end of the season.

Including domestic biathletes will miss the KM stages in Kontiolahti, Otepää and Holmenkollen.

“The RBU did not violate any provisions of the Constitution or other IBU rules so that Russian athletes were deprived of the right to compete with the national flag and anthem and were asked to compete in a neutral status.

The IBU's decision directly violates the fundamental principles of Olympism and the Olympic Charter.

This is direct discrimination against our country and Russian athletes, incompatible with belonging to the Olympic movement,” the organization said in a statement.

Also, the national federation announced their desire to defend the rights of biathletes in court.

“In order not to expose Russian athletes to the risk of humiliation and to eliminate the threat to their safety at the remaining stages of the World Cup and the IBU Cup, the RBU has decided not to participate in these competitions,” the RBU added.

Disappointed with the IBU verdict and head coach of the Russian men's team Yuri Kaminsky.

According to the specialist, his wards planned to compete for high places in the Nations Cup, as well as perform well in individual races.

Now they will have to focus on the All-Russian competitions.

For some domestic athletes, the early end of the international season will be unpleasant news.

For example, Alexander Loginov retained the chances of winning the Small Crystal Globe of the KM in the sprint standings.

In it, he is in fourth place and is inferior to the leader Sebastian Samuelsson by 29 points.

In women, Kristina Reztsova is in second place in the mass start, only 12 points behind Dorothea Wierer.

But the Russians performed most successfully in relay races.

In the standings of both men's and women's races, they occupy the second position and retain the chances of winning, and in mixed relay races they are completely in the lead.

In the overall standings, the indicators are more modest.

In men, Loginov (eighth) was the highest, and in women - Reztsova (13th).

Nevertheless, Alexander kept every chance of getting into the top 5.

“If you perform in this status, it’s better not to go”

In Russia, the decision of the IBU was met with indignation.

For example, the former mentor of the Russian national team, Valery Polkhovsky, supported the retaliatory measures of the RRF.

In his opinion, it is better not to go to competitions than to go to them in a neutral status.

“Of course, the IBU statement about the performance of Russian athletes under a neutral flag came as a surprise to me.

That the RRF decided that our athletes would not go to the competitions is probably right.

If you perform in such a status, then it is better not to go.

Time will dot all the i's, - quotes the words of the specialist "Match TV".

In turn, two-time Olympic champion Dmitry Vasiliev called the harsh verdict of the international federation lawlessness and a violation of all civil statutes and the IBU, as well as human rights.

He lamented that innocent biathletes in this situation were dragged into politics.

“This is a sport.

This is one of the few areas that just can pacify the current situation.

This is an additional platform for dialogue, to talk, to try to establish contacts.

But they cut them.

They deprive the athletes of the flag and the anthem, but then let them show where it is written that this is possible.

Show this article.

Let them show it, and maybe we will agree, if it really complies with the IBU statutes.

But I don't think they will find it.

This, as they say, is concocted on the knee, ”Vasilyev emphasized.

And the ex-president of the RBU, Vladimir Drachev, proposed the creation of an alternative eastern league.

“We have China plus our own East.

In the end, if we are not allowed to compete there, we will not lose our own qualifications in biathlon.

It is clear that their status and everything else is still higher.

But in any case, it is worth thinking about an organization that could assemble its own international IBU.

It would be nice.

Since they don’t accept us ... They don’t like us very much there.

We are already on the bird's rights all this time without status and everything else.

And now in general - act as you want.

They force us not to come to their competitions, ”Drachev said in an interview with Sport-Express.