BIU supports IBU in Safe Harbour safeguarding project
The International Biathlon Union, supported by the Biathlon Integrity Unit, is one of just two international sports federations taking part in Safe Harbour, a collaborative project aimed at strengthening the response mechanism for safeguarding in European sports.
The project officially began on 1 January, with its initial meeting taking place on 28 and 29 January in Brussels. The meeting was set to provide an opportunity to define roles and responsibilities, strengthen collaboration, and set the stage for the project’s initial activities.
Other participants include the International Ice Hockey Federation and 20 European National Olympic Committees, and the project is being co-ordinated by the European Olympic Committees.
Running until June 2027, Safe Harbour aims to enhance safeguarding measures across European sports, encouraging a safer environment for all. Together, the participants will map existing safeguarding practices, identify service gaps, and develop a European response framework to guide safeguarding initiatives across the continent.
Additionally, the participants will create national strategies tailored to the needs of partner countries, providing effective approaches to address safeguarding challenges and offering specialised training programmes to build capacity and expertise.
A major milestone of the project will be the establishment of the European Network for Safeguarding in Sport (ENSS). This online platform will serve as a hub to promote collaboration, share best practices, and ensure the long-term sustainability of safeguarding efforts in European sports.
A series of National Multiplier Events will be organised to raise awareness and share knowledge with a broad range of stakeholders beyond the participants, further amplifying the project’s reach and impact.
The Safe Harbour project is a Cooperation Partnership co-financed by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ Programme 2024.
Participation in the project builds on the BIU’s existing commitment to safeguarding, which has included webinars, podcast interviews and outreaches at IBU events.
Greg McKenna, Head of BIU states after the meeting in Brussels: “I was pleased to attend the Safe Harbour project’s inaugural meeting and to see such strong cooperation between international and national sporting organisations. There is a clear and collective commitment to raising the level of safe sport across the European Union. In cooperation with the International Biathlon Union, BIU remains dedicated to strengthening safeguarding measures, and we look forward to contributing to this important initiative alongside our partners.”
Mental Health as a Top Priority
An initial meeting of a newly-established Mental Health Working Group was held on 20 January, as part of an initiative by the International Biathlon Union (IBU) and Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU) to prioritise mental health in athletes, coaches, and support teams.
Good mental health is essential for both wellbeing and performance, and in recognition of the links between mental health, integrity and good governance. The BIU aims to address these challenges in a proactive, integrated manner.
A very experienced group has been formed to address the topic, consisting of:·
· Greg McKenna, Head of BIU
· Lucie Rothauer, Prevention Manager, BIU
· Dagmara Gerasimuk, Development Director, IBU
· Daniel Böhm, Sport Director, IBU
· Anna Kitzbichler, Education Manager, IBU
· Nathalie Santner, Board Member, IBU
· Jessica Jislova, athlete representative
· Katja Mjösund, Member of IBU Medical Advisory Group and sports physician
· Marie-Laure Brunet, external expert, former athlete and now a coach
· Alan Currie, external expert and psychiatrist with significant experience in mental health support to athletes
The working group aims to meet every two months until November, to work on potential pathways not only to enhance mental health services in the sport, but also to promote overall wellbeing throughout the biathlon community.
The programme will be adapted according to the needs of biathlon, reflecting the specificities of an endurance and individual sport.
If you, or anyone you know in the biathlon family, is affected by these issues, you can contact the BIU in confidence at:
The BIU’s good governance project
Good governance is crucial in any organisation, ensuring that transparency, accountability, efficient decision-making and other important ethical and integrity issues are properly considered and integrated into the way the organisation is run.
The BIU has launched a new governance project, with the aim of enhancing governance standards throughout biathlon’s National Federations (NFs). The project involves:
- assessing current governance practices within NFs
- developing a comprehensive governance framework for NFs, including:
- core governance principles
- ethical standards
- compliance guidelines.
Good governance helps NFs act in the best interests of all their stakeholders, beginning with athletes and the sport itself. By demonstrating that an NF is well-run, performance can increase, and financial results improve. Good governance can result in increased revenue and maximise attractiveness to commercial partners.
By implementing good governance principles, trust from athletes, as well as other stakeholders and partners, can be increased.
Taking the lead
The BIU is here to help NFs in defining their good governance goals and support them as they are implemented. As part of these plans, each NF will be asked to nominate a staff member or volunteer to lead on governance matters. This individual can be an existing team member whose responsibilities will expand to include working with the BIU to implement good governance.
This project will be led by the BIU’s new team member Julia Cook, our Governance Coordinator. Julia joins us from the ITA education team and has also recently completed a research project on sports ethics and integrity.
Each NF’s governance contact will work with Julia and the BIU, receiving materials and the continuing support required to enhance organisational governance standards across biathlon.
We welcome feedback on both this project and what good governance means to you.
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.
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.
The BIU’s role in helping NFs achieve and maintain good governance
The BIU is responsible for assisting the IBU in ensuring that good governance practices are developed by all National Federations that are full members of the IBU.
In practice, this means the BIU is there to help NFs in defining their good governance goals, and support them as they are implemented.
In recent years, NFs in other sports have been hit by a series of governance failures that have:
- escalated into existential crises for the federations;
- and, more importantly, caused direct and lasting harm to the sports and their athletes.
The BIU wants to help ensure that biathlon’s NFs never have to face such crises.
Basic good governance principles
Transparency All NFs and associated organisations should act, and should be seen to be acting, transparently. This means developing mechanisms for clear and open communication, and making regular public disclosures.
Accountability All roles and responsibilities within NFs must be clearly defined, to ensure that ‘I didn’t know’ can never be an excuse for governance failures.
Ethical conduct NFs must adhere to ethical norms and standards, as set out in the IBU Integrity Code.
Compliance NFs must follow IBU and national regulations and guidelines. IBU regulations and guidelines can be found here.
Sustainability The future of biathlon is in the hands of the sport’s wider community. Long-term planning and resource management can help secure biathlon’s sustainability.
Safeguarding Ensuring the safety and well-being of participants and stakeholders is a fundamental and non-negotiable duty of all NFs.
The BIU supports NFs in developing good governance practises through:
Assessment and planning The BIU works with NFs to conduct joint assessments of their governance structures, and identify areas for improvement.
Workshops and training The BIU organises workshops and training sessions on governance best practices.
Resource provision The BIU provides templates, guidelines, and frameworks for governance documentation.
Benchmarking The BIU sets up benchmarks and standards for governance practices.
Peer learning The BIU facilitates peer learning and exchange of best practice among NFs.
Dispute resolution The BIU assists in resolving governance-related conflicts and issues and helps NFs to develop their own independent resolution capabilities.
How can we help you? Get in touch:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +43 662 85 50 50 16
CAS rejects Ustyugov and Sleptsova appeals
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 cases of former athletes Mrs Svetlana Sleptsova and Mr Evgeny Ustyugov.
The CAS has rejected an appeal by Mr Ustyugov and Ms Sleptsova against the first-instance verdicts in their respective cases of anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs). As a result, Mr Ustyugov’s competitive results obtained from 27 August 2013 through to his retirement at the end of the 2013/14 World Cup season are invalidated – including forfeiting any medals, points and prizes. The disqualifications also include results achieved at the Olympic Games and World Championships within the respective time frames.
Mrs Sleptsova’s competitive results obtained from 22 March 2013 through to the end of the 2013/14 World Cup season are invalidated – including forfeiting any medals, points and prizes. The disqualifications also include results achieved at the Olympic Games and World Championships within the respective time frames.
Mrs Sleptsova’s and Mr Ustyugov’s common appeal related to two decisions rendered by the IBU Anti-Doping Hearing Panel in February 2020, which were based on analytical findings recorded in the Moscow Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) database in respect of samples collected from them in 2013.
IBU Anti-Doping Hearing Panel renders verdicts on Sleptsova and Ustyugov (biathlonworld.com)