IOC decision on the International Biathlon Union
On 12 June 2018, the IOC Executive Board (EB) decided to suspend all financial payments to the International Biathlon Union (IBU), with a requirement for the IBU to meet specific conditions in the areas of governance, ethics and anti-doping.
During its meeting on 4 October 2018, the EB noted the positive steps taken by the IBU to address these requirements, but also highlighted the importance of full implementation of all the measures in order to take biathlon into an era of greater transparency and good governance.
IOC President Thomas Bach today met with the recently elected IBU President, Olle Dahlin, and received a full update on all areas addressed by the IOC EB, including:
Progress on governance and ethics (adoption of the new IBU Code of Ethics, appointment of both a new IBU Ethics Commission and an IBU Ethics and Compliance Officer, and adoption of a new IBU whistle-blower policy); and
Implementation of measures to strengthen the fight against doping, including the completion of a full independent audit of the IBU anti-doping programme, the IBU’s commitment to join the International Testing Agency (ITA), and the notification of anti-doping rule violation charges against four Russian athletes based on WADA independent investigations and other related information from WADA.
President Thomas Bach said: “The IOC appreciates the very good progress made in the critical areas of good governance, ethics and the fight against doping. I received a strong undertaking from the IBU President to see these reforms through to full implementation. On this basis, we are looking forward to excellent and close cooperation with the IBU for the benefit of biathlon and the athletes.”
Following the IOC EB meeting on 4 October, the IOC President confirmed that, based on his meeting with Olle Dahlin today, all IOC restrictions are now lifted.
The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit independent international organisation made up of volunteers, which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, which means that every day the equivalent of 3.4 million US dollars goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.
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