The Russian Biathlon Federation and the Belarusian Biathlon Federation are suspended with immediate effect.

As the International Biathlon Union (IBU) announced on Tuesday, its board of directors unanimously decided on the suspension, citing violations of the humanitarian obligations imposed on the member federations by the IBU rules and regulations.

Christopher Becker

sports editor.

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The violations by the Russian federation RBU and the Belarusian BiFB “brings the IBU and the sport of biathlon into disrepute, and their active membership would undermine the efforts of the IBU and its members to credibly promote its constitutional principles and goals,” according to a press release from the IBU.

In addition, given the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is unfair for the RBU and BiFB to continue enjoying membership rights while the war has brought the activities of the Ukrainian Biathlon Federation to a standstill.

IBU with a pioneering role

The IMU is one of the first international sports federations to take action against Russian and Belarusian federations in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.

Most other international sports organizations have so far excluded Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions, but have not taken any action against federations and individual officials.

In his March 11 open letter, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, argued that the Russian government was responsible for the war, "the war was not started by Russian sports organizations."

The IOC recommends all international federations not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete.

The International Swimming Federation and the International Judo Federation are now also following the line, even though the latter announced in the middle of the month that the judoka from the countries responsible for the war had voluntarily decided not to take part.

Most recently, the European Football Union UEFA threatened to consider expelling the Russian Football Association at any time after it expressed interest in hosting the 2028 and 2032 European Football Championships last week.

The suspension of the biathlon federations is scheduled to be reviewed by the IBU Congress in September, unless the Executive Board lifts it first.