Olympia 2018: Biathlon: IBU world association sanctioned Russia

IBU has sanctioned the Russian Federation RBU and downgraded it to a provisional member. According to the World Association, full membership for Russia, which was banned from the winter games in Pyeongchang last Tuesday by the IOC because of the doping scandal, will only be possible again at the end of the 2017/18 season and subject to conditions.

The prerequisites for this are no positive doping tests and the lifting of the blockade of the Russian Olympic Committee by the IOC.

Despite the downgrading, Russian athletes retain their right to participate in all IBU events, but the Russian Federation loses its right to vote in the IBU Congress.

In the scandal over state-supported doping in Russia, the IOC had excluded 25 athletes and former Russian Sports Minister Witali Mutko from the Olympic Games for life.

Among them are the biathlon silver medal winners of Sochi Olga Saizewa, Olga Wilchunia and Jana Romanowa.