Media: Russia bribed President of International Biathlon Union with paid escorts
According to the German publication Bild, citing sources from the channel ARD, an official Russian delegation paid for call girl services for the President of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) Anders Besseberg in exchange for his support in choosing Tyumen as the host city for the 2021 World Cup.
Besseberg, a Norwegian citizen, has taken a temporary leave of absence from activity with the IBU in connection with an investigation into the concealment of doping incidents.
The Norwegian tabloid Verdens Gang previously reported that the IBU President had concealed 65 doping cases involving Russian biathletes beginning in 2011, for which, according to the Norwegian media, he received 300,000 euros.
The Austrian police are currently investigating the activities of the IBU; World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) informant Grigory Rodchenkov is cooperating with the investigation.
The president of IBU claims that he did not hide a single doping test by Russian biathletes.
"I told investigators everything. Rodchenkov has attracted attention, but lawyers do not even have the means to contact him. I am convinced that it is impossible to hide blood samples from the existing system," Besseberg said.
Le Monde earlier reported that IBU staff were offered 25,000 to 100,000 euros in exchange for a vote in support of Russian city Tyumen as the host city for the 2021 World Cup. 25 of the 49 members of the organization's congress voted for Russia’s application.
Tyumen was deprived of the right to conduct competitions in 2017 due to the doping scandal.