Jim Carrabre – FasterSkier

Sweden’s Dahlin Elected IBU President as Reforms Rolled Out

Harald ZimmerSeptember 13, 2018

The past year certainly has not been an easy one for the International Biathlon Union (IBU), the governing body in the sport of biathlon for the past 25 years. The sports federation had to take the unusual measure of suspending the Russian Biathlon Union, historically one of the core countries for biathlon, to a provisional member status. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned several prominent athletes, including biathletes, from that nation from participating in the 2018...

Biathlon Doping General News Olympics Opinion Racing World Cup

What’s Happening as Russia’s Sochi Scandal Winds Down: An Editorial

Chelsea LittleFebruary 9, 2018

FasterSkier would like to thank Fischer Sport USA, Concept2, cleared 28 Russian athletes of doping charges. Many people seemed shocked by this development. The athletes had been disqualified from the 2014 Games by an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Commission. This was after more than 18 months of buildup in which the world learnt of systematic manipulation of the anti-doping process by the Russian state security apparatus at those Olympics. I was both shocked, and not shocked. When all...

Biathlon General News Racing

Cobb Elected IBU Vice President for Sport, First American on Executive Board

Chelsea LittleSeptember 4, 2016

U.S. Biathlon Association President and CEO Max Cobb will join the International Biathlon Union's Executive Board, after serving for four years as the head of the Technical Committee. "As biathlon develops even further, the marriage of the technical aspects of the sport with further development... will become more and more important."

Biathlon General News Olympics Racing World Cup

FIS, IBU Respond to Latest Documentary; Did WADA System Enable Doping Test Evasion?

Chelsea LittleJune 11, 2016

The latest documentary by Hajo Seppelt alleges that Natalia Zhelanova, the anti-doping assistant at Russia's Ministry of Sport, tipped off skiing and biathlon teams before sample collection. Did WADA's ADAMS system, where federations are encouraged to pre-register their planned tests, allow this to happen?

General News

New Study Shows Chugging Water Before Doping Test Alters Biological Passport Markers

Chelsea LittleFebruary 29, 2016

A "void-drink-wait" strategy, used by some dopers to avoid detection in analytical tests, also has impacts on Athlete Biological Passport blood markers, a Danish research team has found. There remains no accurate method to detect blood plasma volume manipulation.

Biathlon Olympics Racing

Abramova Waives B-Sample; Second Athlete Tests Positive as IBU Mulls Sochi Testing

Chelsea LittleFebruary 16, 2016

As Ukrainian biathlete Olga Abramova waived her "B" sample and proceeds to a doping hearing panel, the IBU has found another positive test for the same hormone, mildronate. Plus, IBU VP Jim Carrabre wants to re-analyze testing results from the Sochi Olympics. IBU President Anders Besseberg thinks it's unnecessary, while Russia asserts that the IBU has no jurisdiction.

General News

FIS and IBU Defend Anti-Doping Practices, but Urge Further Investigation and Sochi Re-Testing

Chelsea LittleNovember 11, 2015

The international federations for cross-country skiing and biathlon tout that they have done more against Russian doping than the IAAF - for instance, re-testing old samples with new methods, or sanctioning the Russian ski federation. But WADA's report still scared them, and they want more information.

General News

‘Gender Verification’ Based on Testosterone Shelved by Court of Arbitration for Sport

Chelsea LittleJuly 28, 2015

Athletes will likely no longer face the testing at Olympic Games. The decision has few other implications for skiing, which has not had occasion to do gender testing for several years: “Should it be necessary to arrange a gender verification... then the Olympic Movement rules would be applicable,” FIS Secretary General Sarah Lewis told FasterSkier.

Biathlon General News Racing

Tikhonov Brings Color to Politically Tense Race for IBU Presidency

Chelsea LittleAugust 10, 2014

Convicted in arranging the attempted murder of a regional governor in 2000, Alexander Tikhonov is never dull. One of the best biathletes of all time, he hopes to return to the international spotlight by becoming IBU President. Canada's Jim Carrabre is also taking on Anders Besseberg, who has held the position since 1993.

Biathlon Racing

IBU President Besseberg Explains Olympic Blood Screening Decision, But Reveals Lack of Communication with Medical Director

Chelsea LittleJune 27, 20141

IBU President Anders Besseberg explained to FasterSkier that he is "harmonizing" the blood screening procedures at Olympic Games between biathlon, skiing, and speedskating, and then the IOC will take over all administration of the tests. But his claims that VP for Medical Issues Jim Carrabre never contacted him about the issue is false, as e-mails shared by Carrabre show that he did try to ask the president why the decision was taken.

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Carrabre Launches Bid for IBU Presidency

Chelsea LittleJune 25, 20141

Former Canadian biathlete Jim Carrabre, now a doctor practicing in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area, is launching a bid for the presidency of the International Biathlon Union. He will run against Anders Besseberg, who has held the position since 1993. A longtime antidoping advocate, Carrabre is also running on a platform of good governance and global development of the sport.

Biathlon General News Olympics Racing

Biathlon’s Aggressive Testing Led to Starykh Suspension — But Is It Enough?

Chelsea LittleFebruary 17, 2014

Three biathletes were recently caught doping - but does that count as cleaning out the sport, or is it just the tip of the banned-substance iceberg? According to IBU medical director Dr. Jim Carrabre, the biathlon union has doubled their testing in the leadup to the Olympics and is using the blood passport program to aggressively target potential dopers. Some substances can't be detected, but the federation is pushing as hard as current science and WADA rules allow.