Russian Biathlon Union

News Roundup: WADA in the News Cycle

FasterSkierJune 30, 2020

WADA Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act: On June 18th, WADA issued a press release announcing its Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act. According to WADA, the act was developed and approved by the organization’s Athlete Committee. Essentially, the document asserts it is an athlete’s “fundamental right” to participate in clean sport. It is a two-part document. The first part focuses on rights established in WADA’s Code and International Standards. The second part consists of recommendations, and according to...

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More Olympic and World Championship Medalists Join Tyumen Biathlon Boycott

Chelsea LittleMarch 6, 2018

In three weeks time, biathlon’s World Cup circuit will move to Russia. But a number of the sport’s stars won’t be there – and others plan to attend, but aren’t very happy about it. In an Executive Board session in PyeongChang, South Korea, a few weeks ago, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) decided to go on as planned with World Cup races in Tyumen, Russia, even though the Russian Anti-Doping Agency is still not compliant...

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Rodchenkov Testimony in Zaitseva Case Includes Entire Biathlon Team: Doping Before and After Sochi

Chelsea LittleDecember 23, 2017

On Friday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) posted the reasoned decision from its Disciplinary Commission, in which Russian biathlete Olga Zaitseva was disqualified from the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Zaitseva’s disqualification had been announced previously, but this is the first full-length decision presenting the evidence for the disqualification of any biathlete. Olga Vilukhina and Yana Romanova have also been suspended, but the Oswald Commission’s full decisions for their cases have not yet been released....

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Nordic Nation: Biathlon Canada President Murray Wylie on Boycotting Russia

Jason AlbertDecember 14, 2017

this more in-depth article on the open letter for some detailed context before listening to this podcast episode. Here’s some of the key info from that piece: On Dec. 10,Russia’s participation at the 2018 Winter Games. Despite the RBU’s less-than-full IBU member status, Russia is still scheduled to host the final IBU World Cup races of the season from March 20-25 in Tyumen and IBU Cup 7 & 8 in Uvat and Khanty-Mansiysk. In an...

Biathlon Doping News Racing

Starykh and Loginov Return to International Competition

Chelsea LittleDecember 27, 2016

The Russian rosters for January competition will include two names not seen in a while: Irina Starykh and Alexander Loginov. Both are returning to international competition after serving suspensions for using the blood-doping drug erythropoietin (EPO). Irina Starykh Makes a Fast Return Starykh Starykh failed an out-of-competition test in December 2013 month along with teammate Ekaterina Iourieva. 2013-2014 had been a breakout season for her so far. When asked how she had improved so much by a Russian...

Biathlon Doping News Olympics Racing

IBU Suspends Two Athletes; Russia Gives Up World Junior Championships and World Cup (Updated)

Chelsea LittleDecember 22, 2016

After an Executive Board meeting today to discuss doping in Russia, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) has provisionally suspended two athletes. The federation opened anti-doping investigations into 29 more. Meanwhile, the Russian Biathlon Union voluntarily gave up their hosting rights for two events: 2017 Youth and Junior World Championships, slated for Ostrov, and a World Cup stage slated for Tyumen. Two Suspensions from the 30+ Cases The IOC has jurisdiction over all anti-doping activity at Olympic...

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Czech and British Biathlon to Boycott Tyumen World Cup, Other Teams Consider Joining

Chelsea LittleDecember 20, 2016

In response to evidence of widespread doping in Russia, the Czech Biathlon Union became the first to discuss a boycott. The Czechs will not attend a World Cup stage to be held in Tyumen, Russia, in March; they have been joined by the British Biathlon Union. Several other countries say they hope that the International Biathlon Union will move the event. But the Russian Biathlon Union put out a defiant press release denying any involvement in doping. A Boycott Grows At the...

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.

Biathlon Racing

German Legend Ricco Gross Heads to Russia

Chelsea LittleAugust 17, 2015

After ditching the German team and flirting with a coaching job in Ukraine, German biathlon legend Ricco Gross will work with the Russian men's team. He says he looks forward to having more control and using his own ideas in coaching.

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IBU Hands Down Doping Bans for Three Russians in Re-Testing Cases

Chelsea LittleJuly 13, 2015

Ekaterina Iourieva will serve a four-year ban on top of the eight-year ban she is already serving; Irina Starykh will see one year added to her existing two-year ban. Both had already tested positive on other occasions. First-time offender Alexander Loginov has been banned for two years, ending in November 2016.

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Starykh Banned for Two Years; Claims EPO Was in Cosmetic Injections of Human Placenta

Chelsea LittleJuly 18, 20146

The International Biathlon Union has finally announced the verdict for Irina Starykh of Russia: a two-year ban beginning on December 23, 2013, the date samples were collected which eventually tested positive for recombinant erythropoetin. Starykh claims that the substance must have been in a drug she injected to improve her skin, but this seems unlikely.

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With News of Positive Doping Test, Russian Biathlon Union Turns Defensive; North American Athletes React

Chelsea LittleJanuary 29, 20144

The International Biathlon Union handed provisional sanctions to three athletes who tested positive for banned substances. Russian website Championat is alleging that two are Ekaterina Iourieva, a 2008 World Champion who has already served one doping ban for EPO; and Irina Starykh, currently the top-ranked Russian woman. Across the biathlon world, athletes expressed frustration and dismay.

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International Biathlon Union Fines Russians 50,000 Euros

Nathaniel HerzNovember 15, 2010

The Russian Biathlon Union (RBU) has been fined €50,000. The decision has been respected by the CEO of the RBU and First Vice-President of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), Mr Sergey Kushchenko, who also finds it correct that the IBU is taking tough measures in the fight against doping. The Executive Board of the IBU had to decide at its 99th meeting in Going (Austria) the disciplinary consequences for the RBU; the IBU Anti-Doping Rules...