OREANDA-NEWS. The former head of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) Anders Besseberg was suspected of groundlessly defending Russia's interests in an anti-doping context, as reported on the organization's website.

It is reported that an independent commission came to the conclusion about the protection of the Russian side. The IBU is now waiting for answers to the questions that have arisen from the Norwegian functionary and Nicole Resch, who served as the Union's Secretary General. It is noted that the report with all the evidence was sent to the Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU). It is this organization that must decide on further investigations and possible disciplinary action.

In 2018, the IBU headquarters in Salzburg were searched in relation to doping charges. After that, the former head of the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory Grigory Rodchenkov said that the IBU was hiding anti-doping rule violations by Russian athletes. According to him, the union refused to open anti-doping cases against Russian biathletes, despite the fact that abnormal indicators were recorded in their biological passports.

In addition, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said that Besseberg participated in corruption schemes and received from the Russian side "a diplomat full of dollars." The Norwegian edition of VG also reported that since 2011, he has hidden 65 controversial doping tests of Russians.