The biathlon may be threatened by a doping scandal:”I know for sure that there will be other Russian doping cases,”said James E. Carrabre, IBU Vice President responsible for medical affairs, will be on ZDF television during the World Cup in Kontiolahti, Finland.
Despite the scandal about Russian state doping, the IBU decided in February to let the season finale take place in the Russian Tyumen. In the discussions in the World Federation, the Canadian Carrabre expressed his concerns and expressed his opposition to the World Cup. However, the majority of IBU’s Board of Directors, including Vice President Thomas Pfüller (Planegg), responsible for marketing, voted in favour of the contests on 22 March. till 25. March in Tyumen.
“On the one hand, we should send out a signal because these doping offences have been committed by Russia,”said Carrabre:”Secondly, the athletes do not believe that their doping tests there are being treated safely. And thirdly, the athletes are concerned about their safety.”
Athletes’ spokesman Lowell Bailey also sharply criticised the World Federation:”It’s like a slap in the face for all those who stand up for clean sport and fair competitions,” said the US-American about the decision per Tyumen:”In my opinion, it’s time for a new leadership in IBU.
The teams from Canada, the Czech Republic and the USA had already announced that they would not participate in the competitions in Russia. Relay Olympic champion Sebastian Samuelsson from Sweden and the Slovakian Klemen Bauer had also announced that they would boycott the Tyumen races. For the German Ski Association (DSV), however, a waiver of the last biathlon World Cup of the season is not under discussion.
“Athletes from all over the world have come to me and written letters to IBU, but IBU has kept silent,” Bailey continued:”There is widespread support from all over the world not to go to Tyumen this year.