Assertion of influence
Ex-biathlon boss submits a letter from Angela Merkel in the court
04/27/2025 – 10:04 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The long-time head of the IBU biathlon association is on trial. He hopes that a letter from Angela Merkel will bring him a milder judgment.
A year ago, Besseberg was sentenced to a prison sentence of three years and one month for severe corruption. The Norwegian, head of the IBU biathlon association from 1993 to 2018, was guilty of ten out of ten charges.
So Besseberg is said to have been stabbed again and again, for example with expensive watches, hunting travel or prostitutes. In return, he is said to have held his protective hand over Russia, especially in possible doping procedures. Besseberg appealed.
In this appeal procedure, the Norwegian now wanted to prove that not only Russia tried to influence him. Influence is normal in a democratic system, Besseberg claimed: “As a president, I have opportunities for influence. You shouldn’t abuse them, but you are often influenced or received letters to influence decisions.”
As an alleged evidence of this statement, he presented a letter from the former Chancellor Angela Merkel. The letter, dated 2018 and signed by Merkel, was sent shortly before the decision on the venue of the 2023 biathlon World Cup, says Besseberg. At that time Oberhof was one of the applicants.
According to the Norwegian TV broadcaster NRK, the 79-year-old said that Merkel spoke “very much for the application of Germany”. She referred to the memories of the 2004 World Championships in Oberhof and in 2012 in Ruhpolding. So far, there is no statement by Angela Merkel or the Federal Chancellery.
Besseberg claimed that he valued Merkel’s letter at the time and thanked for the support. Ultimately, Oberhof won the vote against Nove Mesto with 28 to 21 votes.