27 Feb 2022 03:34

Russian biathletes refuse to take part in remaining World Cup legs after IBU decision

MOSCOW. Feb 27 (Interfax) - The decision of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) to strip Russians of the right to compete in the remaining legs of the World Cup and IBU Cup under the Russian flag is discrimination against Russia, the Russian Biathlon Union said.

"The Russian Biathlon Union considers the decision of the International Biathlon Union dated February 26, 2022 regarding the neutral status of Russian athletes at the remaining stages of the World Cup and IBU Cup is unlawful, ungrounded and absolutely unacceptable," the Russian Biathlon Union said in a statement on its website.

"We are indignant over these unlawful actions of the IBU and will defend the rights of our athletes and the rights of the Russian Biathlon Union as an IBU member in court. The Russian Biathlon Union made a decision not to participate in the remaining stages of the World Cup and IBU Cup so that Russian athletes do not come at risk of humiliation and in order to exclude the threat to their security at these competitions," it said.

"The Russian Biathlon Union did not breach [...] IBU rules to deprive Russian athletes of the right to compete under the national flag and anthem, and they were proposed to compete in the neutral status," it said.

"The IBU decision directly violates the basic principles of Olympism and the Olympic Charter. This is a direct discrimination of our country and Russian athletes which is inconsistent with the Olympic movement," it said.

Earlier, the IBU made a decision that Russian and Belarusian biathletes will be able to compete until the end of the season only in the neutral status in light of the situation in Ukraine.