OREANDA-NEWS  Russian four-time Olympic champion in biathlon Alexander Tikhonov was accused of attempted bribery. This information is reported on the website of the International Biathlon Union.

Former general secretary of the organization, Nicole Resch, said that in 2009, a former athlete, who at that time was the first vice-president of the Russian Biathlon Union, offered her a box of jewelry as a bribe. In return, the Russian wanted to end the investigation into the doping cases of his compatriots.

Nicole Resch noted that she refused to take the gift and immediately reported the incident to the President of the International Biathlon Union Anders Besseberg. He settled the situation without consequences for Tikhonov.

Earlier on Thursday, January 28, Besseberg and Resh were suspected of groundlessly defending Russia's interests in an anti-doping context. This is the conclusion reached by an independent commission.