Berlin (dpa) – The biathlon world association IBU has suspended Russia and Belarus with immediate effect because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The IBU announced that the Executive Board’s decision was unanimous.
Both federations had violated the humanitarian obligations of the affiliated federations according to the IBU statutes. These violations by the federations “bring the IBU and the sport of biathlon into disrepute, and their active membership would undermine the efforts of the IBU and its members to credibly promote its constitutional principles and goals,” the statement said.
The suspension is to be reviewed at the next Ordinary Congress on September 15-19, if not lifted earlier by the IBU Executive Board. After the war of aggression began on February 24, the Russians and Belarusians had already been excluded from the last three World Cups of the season.