The head of the Biathlon Federation of Ukraine, Ivan Krulko, praised the International Biathlon Federation (IBU) for suspending the membership of the Russian Biathlon Union (RBU). Related explanation is here official website of the organization.
“It is necessary not only to ban Russians and Belarusians from participating in international competitions, but also to exclude sports federations from international associations!
At the congress in Salzburg, where I represented Ukraine, you should act as the International Biathlon Federation did. And this is the only one among all sports federations to take such a decision. It should be ensured that Russians and Belarusians do not come to international congresses.
The International Biathlon Union (IBU) announced its decision to allow Belarusian and Russian biathletes to participate in the World Cup and IBU stages only as neutral athletes in the spring of 2022. As a result, the Russians decided to skip the competition at the end of the 2021/22 season. In September 2022, the organization extended the suspension period.
At the end of March 2023, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that the Russians be allowed a neutral status if the athletes are not actively involved in supporting hostilities.
Previously on SBR saidWhether the return of Russian biathletes to international competitions is planned.