The International Biathlon Union (IBU) has declined to review its suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes, despite the IOC lifting its own ban. Russia is challenging the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The IBU's decision highlights ongoing divisions within the international sports community regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes, impacting the competitive landscape and potentially influencing future EU sanctions and funding decisions for sports organizations.
The International Biathlon Union (IBU) has decided to maintain its suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes, defying the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) recent decision to lift similar restrictions. The IBU's stance means biathlon will continue to exclude athletes from these nations, setting it apart from sports like handball, volleyball, and boxing, which have reinstated them.
Sergei Averianov, press head for Russia's national biathlon organization, stated that the IBU has no plans to discuss the matter at its upcoming congress in Germany. He indicated the IBU's position is that the conditions leading to the 2022 suspension remain unresolved. Russia is currently challenging the IBU's decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a case that has been under review for three months.
The IOC's decision on July 7 prompted many sports organizations to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete again. Meanwhile, the European Union is considering its response, with nine EU countries reportedly requesting that sports bodies relaxing bans be stripped of EU funding. Discussions are also ongoing to include relevant sporting bodies in the EU's next sanctions package, which is expected to contain approximately 1,500 new listings.