Belarusian biathletes refuse to participate in World Cup following Russians

MINSK. Feb 27 (Interfax) - The Belarusian team, just like the Russians, will not participate in the remaining stages of the Biathlon World Cup, the Belarusian Biathlon Federation said on Sunday.

"The Belarusian Biathlon Federation civic association reports that the national team of the Republic of Belarus will not participate further in the next stages of the Biathlon World Cup for the 2021-2022 season," it said in a statement.

This decision was taken in response to sanctions imposed by the International Biathlon Union (IBU). Previously, the Russian Biathlon Union made a similar decision.

As reported the previous day, due to the crisis in Ukraine, the IBU banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing under their national flags at the competitions under the auspices of the organization and from using the national anthems of Russia and Belarus. Belarusian and Russian biathletes could compete only in neutral status, and they would not score any points in the Nations Cup.

There are three stages left in the Biathlon World Cup: in Kontiolahti (Finland) from March 3 to 6, in Otepaa (Estonia) from March 10 to 13, and in Holmenkollen (Norway) from March 17 to 20.