January 22, 2017 – On December 9, 2016 the IBU received the task from WADA to take over the result management responsibility for suspicions found by WADA-appointed Independent Person (IP) McLaren and his team that were reported for Russian athletes in biathlon on a national level, during the period of November 2013 to September 2014.

The task does not concern the samples collected during the period of the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, for which the IOC was separately asked by WADA to conduct an investigation based on the information shared by McLaren.

The IBU took on this additional responsibility in order to ensure a consistent result management and foster the values of a doping-free sport. This task is normally conducted by a national anti–doping agency for any issues arising from national testing. Since RUSADA was declared incompliant by WADA on Nov. 15, 2015, no result management authority exists in Russia. Anti–Doping testing for Russian athletes has been conducted by the UK Anti–Doping Agency during this time.

On December 12, 2016 the IBU installed a working group, consisting of international legal, medical and anti–doping administration experts to evaluate all documentation provided and advise the IBU Executive Board whether or not any disciplinary measures towards individual athletes or the Russian Biathlon Union should be taken.

Any evaluation was based on the executive summaries provided by WADA. The IBU’s working group, however, does not yet have access to any additional database of RUSADA or the Moscow Anti–Doping Laboratory.

At the Extraordinary Executive Board (EB) Meeting in Munich on December 22, 2016, the IBU suspended two Russian athletes provisionally, for whom the IOC opened investigations. These stay in place; they have not been challenged by the retired athletes.

Regarding the 29 athletes, against which the IBU opened investigation on December, 22, the IBU Extraordinary Executive Board meeting decided today to further investigate in 7 (seven) individual athletes. There is no sufficient evidence for the other athletes for the time being.

Moreover, the EB decided to automatically include all RBU athletes competing in any IBU event in the IBU Registered Testing Pool.

In addition, the IBU will open formal investigation against the RBU. The RBU is to provide the IBU with a detailed and fully documented report with respect to the seven cases under investigation.

The next EB Meeting will take place on February 9th to make further decisions before the WCH. Also the option of an Extraordinary IBU Congress will be discussed.

The proposals from the athletes’ letter, received on January 13th 2017, are appreciated and taken seriously. The proposals are now forwarded to the Legal Committee in order to draft proposals to the Executive Board for future rule amendments to be tabled at the next Congress.

In the light of the ongoing investigations by the IOC, the IBU will address an urgent request to the IOC in order to prioritize the opening and re-testing of samples taken during 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi specifically for still active biathletes.