Corruption Conviction for Former Biathlon Union President

Anders Besseberg, the former president of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), has been sentenced to three years and one month in prison by a Norwegian court after being found guilty of severe corruption. The charges spanned his presidency from 1993 to 2018, with a particular focus on the period between 2009 and 2018, where he was convicted on nine out of ten counts.

The Buskerud court in Hokksund provided a detailed account of the allegations against Besseberg, which included accepting bribes in the form of luxury watches, lavish hunting trips, and the use of a leased car funded by business associates. In addition, there were accusations regarding his involvement with prostitutes. While he later retracted his confession about engaging with prostitutes, the court's ruling was based on compelling testimony and supporting evidence.

The court emphasized Besseberg's misuse of his position, indicating a profound misunderstanding of his responsibilities, which notably benefited Russian doping practices. An independent review commission had previously indicated in 2021 that he had enabled doping within the Russian team by covering up their violations in exchange for extravagant gifts and other perks.

Following the conviction, Besseberg announced plans to appeal the decision, expressing both surprise and disappointment at the court's judgment.