The Russian Biathlon Federation RBU elects a new president. Incumbent Viktor Maigurov is up against Vice President Alexei Nuzhdov. Things get dirty just before the election.
The election for the new biathlon association president on Thursday caused a lot of excitement in advance. Because: Serious allegations were made against incumbent Viktor Maigurov.
RBU Council Chairman Alexander Yeslev had filed a complaint against Maigurov with the prosecutor’s office on behalf of the association. The accusation: abuse of office, arbitrariness, illegal activities in the distribution of funds and embezzlement of funds. Maigurov then announced that he would file a counterclaim.
The incumbent, who has been at the helm of the association since 2020, subsequently received support from several former biathletes. Two-time Olympic champion Dmitry Vasilyev, for example, sharply criticized Yeslev’s actions.
“All these allegations, in my opinion, are far from pleasant on the eve of the election. If that happens almost a week before the election, that’s not very good. If there were any allegations, why weren’t they made beforehand? But diving now right before the elections. I don’t like it,” Vasilyev toldchampionship.ru“. The election was thus influenced, criticized the 59-year-old today.
“They start throwing dirt”
Ex-biathlete Olga Zaitseva was even clearer. “I think we shouldn’t believe the rumours,” the four-time Olympic champion toldchampionship.ru” on the allegations against Maigurov. “The second candidate behaves incorrectly in the run-up to the election. They start throwing dirt and playing games behind the scenes. These are the wrong methods.”
Zaitseva is therefore hoping for another term in office for Maigurov, under whom “good changes” have already taken place in recent years.
In view of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, the sanctions imposed by the World Federation IBU against Russian biathletes remain in place. For the time being, they cannot take part in World Cup competitions, instead Russia is planning to introduce a national competition.