Uncategorized – Biathlon Integrity Unit

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Mona Brorsson elected to WADA Athlete Council

Olympic gold medallist Mona Brorsson has been elected to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Athlete Council Group 2 for 2025-2027.

The Swede was amongst eight members to be elected following a two day election held virtually via an online voting platform between 10-12 December. The election was open to International Federation (IF) Athlete Commissions (ACs) and saw 55 out of the 60 IF ACs cast votes.

Brorsson brings significant experience as an athlete who has competed at the very highest level having won gold in the women’s relay at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, silver in the women’s relay at PyeongChang 2018 and silver at the World Championships in 2019. In addition to her athlete experience, her studies in political science and experience from antidoping procedures in biathlon, equip her with the knowledge of how to support the enhancement of antidoping policies.

Speaking about why she wanted to be on the WADA Athlete Council, Brorsson said:

“It would give me a unique opportunity to be a voice for all athletes, to affect and contribute to antidoping policies and be able to fight for fair and clean sport. I would be able to represent my former colleagues, speak up for them, bring forward their views and needs and make sure that their voices get heard at the highest level. My commitment and my experience within my sport makes me a good candidate and hopefully able to make a true difference in the fight against doping.”

The WADA Athlete Council represents, supports, and promotes the voices of athletes on anti-doping matters; and is the avenue for athletes, chosen by athletes, to assume important seats within WADA’s governance bodies. The Council comprises:

· Group 1: Five athletes appointed by the International Olympic Committee’s and International Paralympic Committee’s Athlete Commissions;

· Group 2: Eight athletes elected by the Athlete Commissions of International Federations; and

· Group 3: Seven other athletes, selected by an appointment panel made up by a majority of athletes, to fill skills and diversity gaps

CAS rejects next Ustyugov appeal – Sochi medal reallocation delay

The Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU) and the International Biathlon Union (IBU) welcome the decision issued by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the Biological Passport case of former athlete Mr Evgeny Ustyugov. The CAS Appeals Division has upheld the findings of the Anti-Doping Division (ADD) of CAS, which determined that Mr Ustyugov committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) based on anomalies identified in his Athlete Biological Passport (ABP).

Following this finding, Mr Ustyugov has been sanctioned with a four-year period of ineligibility. Additionally, all competitive results achieved by Mr Ustyugov between 24 January 2010, and his retirement at end of the 2013/2014 season are invalidated, including any associated medals, points and prizes. This includes results achieved at the Olympic Winter Games Vancouver 2010, where he had been awarded the gold medal in the mass start and the bronze in the men’s relay. Mr Ustyugov may appeal this decision to the Swiss Federal Tribunal (SFT). However, such appeals are only permitted on narrow procedural grounds.

Meanwhile, Mr Ustyugov has appealed another recent and separate CAS decision to the SFT. That CAS ruling rejected a joint appeal filed by Mr Ustyugov and another former athlete, Mrs Svetlana Sleptsova, who challenged the first-instance verdicts issued by the IBU Anti-Doping Hearing Panel in February 2020, which were based on findings from the Moscow Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) database.

That ruling resulted in Mr Ustyugov’s loss of all associated medals, points and prizes from 27 August 2013 to the end of the season 2013/2014 including the results of the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi 2014 where he had been awarded a relay gold medal. The medal reallocation of that competition can only be implemented after a final verdict by the SFT and a subsequent formal IOC Executive Board decision on the reallocation.

CAS Arbitral Award

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WADA Prohibited List 2025

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s 2025 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods, approved by WADA’s Executive Committee on 12 September, enters into force on 1 January 2025.

The 2025 WADA Prohibited list contains several changes and updates relevant to biathlon, notably an important change to the maximum allowed use of inhaled formoterol.

Under the new rules, athletes will only be able to therapeutically inhale up to 36 micrograms of formoterol over any 12-hour period. A Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) will be required to cover therapeutic use that exceeds these permitted limits.

WADA said: “These new 12-hourly dosing intervals are consistent with manufacturers’ recommended use; the maximum delivered dose is unchanged at 54 micrograms over 24 hours.”

WADA summarises the other changes as follows:

Prohibited substances

S0. Non-Approved Substances

· S-107 and S48168 (ARM210) were added to S0 as examples of the class of ryanodine receptor-1-calstabin complex stabilizers. The ryanodine receptor-1-calstabin complex is a major component of calcium storage and release, serving to maintain skeletal muscle function.

S4. Hormone and Metabolic Modulators

· Elacestrant was added as an example of an anti-estrogen.

· Mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c (MOTS-c) was added as an example of an AMP-activated protein kinase activator.

· For clarity, S519 and S597 were added as examples of insulin-mimetics. Insulin-mimetics compounds or selective insulin receptor modulators (SIRMs) mimic insulin action by binding to the insulin receptor2.

S5. Diuretics and Masking Agents

· Xipamide was added as an example of a diuretic.

Prohibited methods

M1. Manipulation of Blood and Blood Components

· Donation of blood or blood components (e.g. plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and peripheral blood stem cells) including by apheresis is not prohibited when performed in a collection centre accredited by the relevant regulatory authority of the country in which it operates.

M3. Gene and Cell Doping

· Minor editorial change was made for clarity

WADA’s Summary of major Modifications can be found here.

WADA has also published the 2025 Monitoring Program which lists substances (not on the Prohibited List) that are currently being monitored for potential misuse in sport.

The 2025 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods

WADA’s list designates which substances and methods are prohibited both in- and out-of-competition and which substances are banned in particular sports.

For a substance or method to be added to the list, it must be determined that it meets at least two of the following three criteria:

· It has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance

· It represents an actual or potential health risk to the athletes

· It violates the spirit of sport.

Olivier Niggli, WADA’s Director General, said: “We encourage athletes, their entourage and all stakeholders to acquaint themselves with the Summary of Major Modifications to avoid inadvertent use of substances and methods that are prohibited in sport for 2025.”

Athletes and their support personnel should make themselves aware of the changes, review any medications they use, and apply for a TUE, if required, before the updated list comes into effect on 1 January 2025.

Correct nutrition for biathletes

In a video interview at the BIU’s headquarters in Salzburg, Austria, we spoke to Judith Haudum about good nutrition habits.

“Eating is important to get the calories and nutrients to stay healthy,” says Judith Haudum. “The starting point for every success is to have a healthy body, and I think this is the main role for nutrition: to get what you need to function.”

Judith is a sports nutritionist who has worked in a range of team and endurance sports, and is currently the sports dietician at the Olympic training centre in Salzburg.

Addressing the controversial issue of the use of dietary supplements by athletes, Judith, who describes herself as a ‘food-first’ advocate, argues that supplements are only necessary for those who don’t already have a balanced diet.

“For most athletes,” she continues, “they are not necessary. If you focus on a well-balanced, nutritious diet, even though you are an elite athlete and you have loads of training to do, you are able to really meet your needs with food alone.”

Poor nutrition is one possible reason for athletes failing to perform as they would hope or expect despite intensive training, Judith says, but just as important is recovery: “What are athletes doing after training to support training adaptation? It’s not just about fuelling the training, but also about what you do around training to make that next step happen.”

One major issue in elite sports occurs when athletes fail to fuel their body to have enough energy for bodily functions, a syndrome known as Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). “Over time, this leads to health issues and also performance issues,” Judith says, adding: “There is still this mentality where athletes think, ‘the lighter I am, the better I will get’, but there is no confirmation of this. So, you get really susceptible to infections, for example, and you’re not adapting to the training load.”

RED-S is difficult to diagnose because symptoms vary widely between athletes, Judith says, but it’s important that athletes who believe they are suffering from RED-S make sure they are fuelling according to their training needs, and also that they reach out for an assessment.

Athletes who are part of clubs or federations that have sports dieticians can consult them, but many sports physicians also know the symptoms of RED-S, while a psychologist could also form part of a team that helps to support the athlete.

Listen to the full interview here.

Training in the heat

The BIU talked to Dr Carolin Kilian, a specialist in internal medicine, intensive care and sports medicine, who has many years of experience of working with biathlon athletes and teams, about how to train safely in hot and/or humid environments.

Individual factors, such as hydration status, sweat loss rate, acclimatization and fitness can influence an athlete´s capacity to tolerate and adapt to demanding environments.

However, Dr Kilian has useful advice for all athletes about training on hot summer days, beginning with the obvious: both the duration and intensity of exercise during hot and humid days should be reduced!

Time of day

The time of day can influence athletic performance. For example, endurance performance in the heat could benefit from a lower core temperature in the morning, whereas the optimum time for sprint performance might, according to some reports, be the late afternoon.

In any case, says Dr Kilian, the best time to train on hot summer days is likely to be in the early morning or late afternoon or early evening.

Fluid intake

Sweating rates in hot and humid environments can reach 2L per hour, making a higher fluid intake than normal necessary to avoid overheating. Appropriate fluid ingestion before and during sports activity can minimise dehydration and reduce the rate of increase in body core temperature.

Fluid loss and sweat rate vary widely for different people and different sports, making it difficult to give universal recommendations on fluid intake. Fluid requirement is determined by exercise intensity and heat stress. A higher metabolic rate and a higher heat category cause a higher sweat rate. Changes in body weight, urine volume and colour are all indicators that can help athletes to evaluate their fluid loss through sweating.

In general, Dr Kilian gives the following advice:

Athletes should drink 5-7 ml per kg of body weight, 15 to 30 minutes before exercise
When exercise lasts more than one hour, athletes should drink 10-13 ml per kg of body weight per hour, and after exercise an additional fluid intake of 4 ml per kg of body weight per hour of activity is recommended
Dietary salt intake might be necessary during training or competitions that last longer than two and a half hours

Signs of overheating

Training and competition in hot environments can pose severe challenges to metabolic, thermo-regulatory, cardiovascular and cognitive function, says Dr Kilian.

Severe heat stress can lead to:

Hyperthermic fatigue (abnormally high body temperature)
Weakness
Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness
Headache
Changes of mental state (can lead to loss of consciousness)
Orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure)

Precautions

There is no recognised temperature in most countries in which biathlon is practised above which it is unsafe to train at all, provided that sensible precautions are taken, according to Dr Kilian.

Those precautions can include:

Acclimatisation

Heat acclimatisation can improve exercise-heat tolerance while training or competing in hot and humid conditions, with the duration depending on the difference between the climate at the places of residence and competition. The greater the difference, the longer it takes to acclimatise.

Natural heat acclimatisation is better than artificial acclimatisation, according to Dr Kilian, who recommends a minimum of one week and an optimum of two weeks of acclimatisation. Progress in heat acclimatisation is detectable through a decrease in core body temperature and heart rate, as well as an increase in sweat rate.

Warm-up/precooling

A warm-up period is essential to increase muscle temperature, perfusion (the passage of fluid through the system), and oxygen transport through capillary dilation. A higher body core temperature could lead to earlier heat strain (the overall physiological response resulting from heat stress) and reduced performance. Therefore, precooling through, for example, cold water exposure and/or use of ice vests, is a good way to reduce baseline body core temperature.

Appropriate clothing

In hot weather, athletes need to wear clothing that enables the body to dissipate excess heat and minimize heat gained from the environment. In most cases, it is best to wear as little clothing as possible to maximise evaporative heat loss through naked skin areas.

Clothing worn during the activity should be made of a lightweight, breathable material, through which sweat can easily evaporate.

BIU Publishes Annual Report 2023-2024

The Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU) has released its Annual Report for the period from May 2023 to April 2024, marking a year of heightened focus on governance and prevention.

In her introductory message, Louise Reilly, Chair of the BIU Board, stated, “Our commitment to sustaining a clean, fair, and transparent sport has never been stronger. This document encapsulates our ongoing efforts, strategic advancements, and a renewed pledge to safeguard our athletes, officials, and stakeholders from any form of misconduct.”

Greg McKenna, Head of the BIU, underscored the importance of good governance practices for all stakeholders. “Recent events within our own realm and the broader sports community have highlighted the vulnerabilities and potential consequences of complacency. These lessons reinforce our conviction that strong governance is fundamental to the integrity and future of sports. Our commitment to the Biathlon Family is to foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and fairness. Understanding our community, its unique dynamics, challenges, threats, and risks is central to our mission. Only with insight can we effectively safeguard our sport against integrity threats.”

The report provides a comprehensive overview of the BIU’s operational activities, including key facts and figures. Out of a total budget of €1.97 million (up from €1.70 million last year), 51% was spent on Sample Collection & Analysis, 17% on Operations, 12% on Prevention, 17% on Legal Support, and 3% on the BIU Board.

Key Anti-Doping Statistics

The BIU collected 1,293 samples, with 64% collected out of competition. A total of 338 athletes from 32 nations were tested. The BIU also continued its collaboration with the IBU’s Development Department, emphasizing education for coaches through contributions to the IBU Academy’s Coaches Courses on Anti-Doping, Safeguarding, and other integrity-related matters.

Education Initiatives

As education is key the BIU continued its efforts to educate especially young athletes, through educational activities such as Outreaches & Seminars various IBU Events such as the IOC-IBU development camps, IBU and Junior Cups and Youth and Junior World Championships.

Other Highlights

BIU-NADO Workshop: A two-day workshop for National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) in Salzburg aimed at exchanging experiences, sharing resources, and ensuring high-quality anti-doping work while identifying system weaknesses.
New Athlete Ambassadors: Chloe Levins (USA) and Lovro Planko (SVK) were engaged as new athlete ambassadors to support BIU communication with the community.
Safeguarding Webinar: The “Keep Biathlon Safe” webinar targeted administrative personnel from National Federations, focusing on safeguarding issues. A highlight was a talk by Allison Forsyth, which can be viewed here.
Improved Reporting Hotline: Enhancements to the online platform for reporting wrongdoing in biathlon included a more user-friendly interface and availability in three languages: English, Russian, and German. Access the improved reporting hotline here.
Former IBU President Conviction: Since its inception, the BIU has worked closely with criminal authorities to investigate allegations of corruption by former IBU officials. On April 12, 2024, former IBU President Anders Besseberg was convicted of corruption in Norway, underscoring the BIU’s and government bodies’ commitment to fairness, transparency, and integrity in biathlon.

The full BIU Annual Report for May 2023 to April 2024 can be found here.

Time to rest!

Now the racing season is over, it’s important to rest, give your mind and body the chance to recover, change your routines, see family and friends – and maybe even allow yourself a few of those little pleasures that are forbidden during the competition season!

The BIU asked some experienced coaches and athletes for their tips on how to make the most of the off-season.

After the return of the IBU World Cup tour to US soil at Soldier Hollow on 8 to 10 March, the first time competing at home for many US athletes, Armin Auchentaller, Team USA coach, told us that “slowing down the pace after five months of racing and several months of pre-season training is crucial, physically, mentally and emotionally.”

His advice? “Give yourself a chance to heal yourself, either through stillness or many other different opportunities and activities you may have in life, aside from biathlon.”

Team USA’s BIU athlete ambassador Chloe Levins added: “To completely direct your energy to something unrelated to biathlon is the best thing you can do for your brain and body.

“Make sure you continue to eat full, healthy meals during the off-season. Your body worked extremely hard, week after week, during the competition season and needs sufficient fuel to recalibrate.

“Use the springtime to be spontaneous and let your soul roam! Chase after other interests or simply enjoy the peace.”

Jonne Kahkonen, the Finnish coach of the Italian women’s team, spoke to us after helping Lisa Vittozzi to lift her first-ever Total Score crystal globe. After such a demanding physical and mental effort, he values the importance of resting and recovering, not only for those, like Vittozzi, who return from a successful season, but also for the ones who felt like the season could have gone better.

He said: “Even if you are behind and you know you need to work to catch up, recovery dictates how much and how often you can train.

“During the off-season, you can allow yourself to have a little extra, whether it is a nice dessert or some chocolate or candy at the movies – all part of the physical and mental recovery.

“Spend some more time with family, friends and loved ones. Be happy with what you have accomplished, whether you met your goals or not Leave the past behind and look forward!”

Combating abuse in sport

The BIU spoke to Allison Forsyth, a former Alpine skier who was herself a victim, about safeguarding and Safe Sport.

She discussed her own experience of abuse, how the culture of sport, with frequent travel, can make athletes vulnerable and whether sports organisations are getting better at tackling it.

She also spoke of the need for change in the culture of hiring coaches, and how victims might not even know they’re being abused.

Listen to the full interview here.

Meet our new Athlete Ambassador!

A podcast interview with our newly-appointed Athlete Ambassador Lovro Planko

In the second in our series of podcast interviews with the BIU’s two new athlete ambassadors. Slovenia’s Lovro Planko spoke to us about why becoming a BIU athlete ambassador enables him to give back to the sport.

He also told us how he avoids forgetting to register his whereabouts and advised young athletes facing their first anti-doping test not to be nervous, and relax!

And – as the BIU launches its Summer of Respect campaign – Lovro told us what respect in biathlon means to him.

Click here to listen to the interview.

Dr Katja Mjøsund at the IBU Physician Seminar

The BIU welcomed a presentation by Dr Katja Mjøsund on the subject of Medication and Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) at an IBU Physician Seminar on 14 June 2023, which included some useful tips on an important topic for athletes and coaches.

Dr Mjøsund is a consultant physician specialized in sports and exercise medicine. Her primary message to the participants at the seminar was that athletes need to be careful when taking any medication, while coaches and team doctors should also be aware of the risks, and ensure that athletes check any medication before using it.

Dr Mjøsund said: “Health is a prerequisite to performance, success and development in sports. Although endurance athletes are in general healthy, athletes can still fall ill and require medical treatment.

“When assessing medications in athletes it’s important to consider interactions, side effects, possible effects on performance and various regulations, primarily the list of prohibited substances and methods in sports, published yearly by WADA.”

Medications can be checked at The Global Drug Reference Online (Global DRO), which provides athletes with information about the status of certain medications based on the current World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited list.

Global GRO can be found at: https://www.globaldro.com/Home

Alternatively, athletes can consult the Medication Database of their own National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs).

Meanwhile, more details on TUEs can be found on the BIU website, which explains the process for TUE Applications.

Dr Mjösund concluded: “Health and proper medical care are fundamental rights for athletes, as they are for everyone. Sometimes an athlete’s medical condition might require treatment with a prohibited substance or method. To ensure fairness and also a level playing field in sports, while also optimizing the medical care of the athlete, a rigorous process of Therapeutic Use Exemptions has been created.

“The TUE process is designed to ensure that the athlete gets the required medical care without any additional effect on performance (other than a return to the athlete’s normal state of health).”

Dr. Katja Mjøsund

Dr. Mjøsund is head physician at the Olympic Training Centre in Helsinki, a senior advisor at the Paavo Nurmi Centre, University of Turku, a sports medicine consultant at clinic Aava, and a team physician for national orienteering and biathlon teams.

She also has a strong research background and expertise in skeletal muscle energy metabolism, Dr Mjøsund serves as an expert for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and a member of the International Testing Agency Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee.

CAS Arbitral Award

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