Russia has not yet won its bid to have the International Biathlon Union’s ban on its athletes reconsidered, after the governing body announced plans to review the suspension at the upcoming congress in Germany.
“Just as two years ago, there are no plans to discuss these matters at the Congress”, press secretary for the Russian Biathlon Union, Sergei Averianov, told Telegram.
The IBU believes that since the suspension criteria of two years ago have still not been met, there is no need for them to change their decision. At the time of reporting, no public statement has been made by the IBU.
Not only have Russian athletes challenged their country’s suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the investigation into which is reported to have been underway for 3 months, they have also requested a review at the IBU’s congress on September 17.
The biathlon governing body has, however, bucked the trend of other international sports organizations which have reinstated Russia and Belarus after the IOC lifted its suspension of Russia last month, and the latter will participate in sport from handball to boxing, motorsport to table tennis, and volleyball.
