Russia did not rejoice for long at the words of lawyer Richard McLaren, who over the weekend stood up for Russian athletes and said that their removal was illegal.

Already on Tuesday, August 16, the International Biathlon Union again forced domestic experts to resent.

In a release published on the official website, the organization's executive committee recommends that the IBU congress extend the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes.

It is proposed to lift the sanctions only on one condition: if the RRF and the BSE clearly distance themselves from the situation in Ukraine and do not allow officials or athletes to be involved in hostilities.

This is not yet a final decision.

However, judging by the mood in the biathlon world, most of the delegates to the IBU Congress, which will be held in Salzburg from September 15 to 18, are likely to heed the recommendations, since they are proposed by the leadership of the international federation.

The RBU quickly responded to the release, recalling two lawsuits filed with CAS in connection with the suspension of athletes and the suspension of the union's membership in the organization.

“We believe that today's recommendations of the IBU Executive Committee regarding the athletes of Russia and Belarus are just as hypocritical and politicized, they also contradict the IBU Constitution and are just as harmful to world biathlon as the March decisions.

For our part, by September 8, 2022, as proposed to us, the Russian Biathlon Union will prepare a legally justified appeal to all participants in the Congress and members of the IBU, in which our position will be detailed, ”the official statement says.

At the same time, RRF Vice President Alexei Nuzhdov does not believe that the arguments of the Russian side will affect the situation.

As the specialist admitted, in his memory the Congress always supported the recommendations of the executive committee.

“Maybe this will be an exceptional case, although I don’t see the prerequisites.

I would say that there is no chance, ”Match TV quoted Nuzhdov as saying.

Yuri Kaminsky, the coach of the Russian men's biathlon team, is also sure that the executive committee will achieve the removal of the RRF and BFB at the congress.

However, he expressed surprise at such a position of officials.

“Before the start of the conflict, the IBU proved to be a very democratic organization in the best sense of the word.

In comparison with the same FIS, the biathlon union was much more loyal.

When they said “biathlon family”, it really meant something.

But now, what does “biathlon family” mean - I don’t really understand.

A biathlete who is outside the conflict area is no longer a biathlete in their understanding?

asked the expert.

According to two-time Olympic champion Dmitry Vasiliev, there could be no other recommendations from the IBU, since the organization became very biased and became hostage to the situation.

“They, in principle, cannot have their own point of view, let alone express it.

This is fraught with repercussions for them.

Moreover, in the spirit of the most difficult times of the Soviet period.

They, unfortunately, do not have to learn from history and step on the same rake that our people had to go through.

Although they position themselves as a democratic society.

There is no freedom of speech.

Even those people in the international federation who really think differently, and there are many of them, cannot speak out openly.

And at best they are silent.

And at worst they are obliged to oppose Russia.

Therefore, it is not necessary to count on something positive.

But such is the situation now.

All this foam will come down after a while, and will end with the fact that the inhabitants of Western states will take to the streets and say: “Enough!

We have to negotiate with Russia!”

Only at this moment will the whole saga with sports end, ”Vasiliev said in an interview with RT.

Also, the specialist considers it strange the requirement to prevent the involvement of athletes and officials in hostilities, presented to the SBR and BSE. 

“The question itself is absurd.

If you have any facts about the participation of biathletes in a special operation, then present them.

Why make such a bold statement?

As far as I know, there were no such appeals in Russia.

Everyone must do their job.

The fact that they mix everything together speaks of a loss of common sense.

Some kind of madness took over society.

This is very sad.

Before setting the conditions for the SBR, you first tell us what we are doing wrong.

But, as far as I understand, they have nothing to show, ”added the interlocutor of RT.

Legally, the IBU has something to hold on to.

The organization is well aware that a number of athletes of the Russian national team are military personnel or employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

However, this practice is also common in other countries.

And according to Vasiliev, officials are simply using the situation for their own purposes.

“Let them not be cunning.

In the West, 80 percent of athletes are military personnel.

This is a known fact.

This is done to employ athletes.

They then receive a decent salary and additional benefits.

We have a similar story.

There is no cunning and obligatory participation in military operations in this.

The IBU understands everything very well, they know that not a single biathlete is involved in an armed conflict.

They are very familiar with our system.

This is just an excuse to make an elephant out of a fly.

They try to come up with something nasty, and then unwind it to incredible proportions.

I think everything should be taken calmly.

Survive this period, do not grieve.

Yes, the general situation is not entirely good, but you must keep your head cold and not sink into hysteria.

Everyone just has to do their own thing, ”concluded Vasiliev.

The coach of the Russian women's team, Mikhail Shashilov, even called the agreement with the conditions put forward by the IBU a betrayal of the country.

“I think it's all in the past.

Although who knows?

What kind of people are there today?

Anything can happen, I have recently encountered different things.

But everything is positive for me.

We need to work, search, dig, hope and believe,” the specialist noted.

Agree with Shashilov and two-time Olympic champion Sergei Chepikov.

In his opinion, the recommendations of the International Biathlon Union are absolutely unacceptable.

“I condemn the proposal of the IBU Executive Board.

You know who sits in the leadership of this organization - representatives of unfriendly countries.

They are doing everything to prevent Russian athletes from attending international competitions.

In particular, they put forward conditions that are completely impossible for our biathletes.

Anyone who is loyal to our country will never go to them.

The absence of Russian biathletes will have a negative impact on the popularity of world biathlon,” Chepikov said.