Olympic champion of 2018 in the relay and two-time world champion in biathlon Sebastian Samuelsson believes that Russian biathletes should not be allowed to participate in international competitions. He emphasized that this issue is being resolved at a legal level, but he trusts the IBU regulations and is confident that there should be no Russians in the competitions. The decision to suspend athletes from Russia by the IBU was made due to the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Additionally, the Union of Biathletes of Russia has filed a complaint to the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding the exclusion of their athletes from participating in IBU-organized tournaments. The participation of Russian athletes in propaganda events violates the IOC recommendations regarding neutral athletes, hence such participation is unacceptable.
The joy of victory in competitions is overshadowed by disputes and legal battles. We expect a resolution of the dispute and fairness in biathlon competitions. Let us remind you that the 2026 Olympics will take place from February 6 to 22 in Italy.