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!”
Respect the rules: maintain biathlon’s integrity
Two incidents that the BIU has dealt with in recent months have underlined the importance of respecting biathlon’s rules in order to maintain the sport’s integrity.
In one case, an Athlete Support Personnel member participated at an IBU World Cup event using false accreditation.
This issue presents safety and security risks to the wider biathlon family, especially in a sport where firearms are included. It is imperative that access to competition areas is properly controlled.
Consequently, the BIU recommended sanctions for both the Athlete Support Personnel member and the athlete whose accreditation he attempted to misuse, as well as for the national member federation concerned.
In the second case, a rifle containing live ammunition was negligently fired in an athlete’s hotel room (albeit no one was injured) during what was intended as a ‘dry firing’ drill.
It is imperative that safety issues or violations are reported swiftly to an International Biathlon Union official or the BIU.
The BIU recommended sanctions for both the athlete and the national member federation concerned.
In both cases, athletes, support personnel and federations all co-operated in the investigations that followed the incidents and accepted the sanctions without complaint.
Adherence to rules during biathlon competitions is crucial, not only to maintain the integrity and fairness of the sport but also to prevent the necessity for disciplinary actions. By promptly reporting any irregularities or concerns to the BIU or any onsite IBU official, we can ensure that matters are addressed swiftly and effectively. Early reporting can mitigate issues, potentially leading to a resolution that may not require sanctions, thereby preserving the sporting spirit and reputation of all involved parties.
If you are unsure, always report an issue to the BIU at [email protected] or directly through our anonymous reporting portal:
BIU-NADO co-operation
What are the competencies of a National Anti-Doping Organisation and how do they compare with those of an Integrity Unit?
In our latest podcast interview, Linn Gustafsson, Anti-Doping Coordinator at Anti-Doping Sweden, and Lucie Rothauer, BIU Prevention Manager, discuss the roles of their respective organisations, and what a co-operation and co-ordination programme between the BIU and a NADO looks like.
In the podcast, Linn and Lucie explain how their organisations strive to complement each other through exchanging opinions and approaches in areas such as testing and test distribution plans, to avoid unnecessary double-testing.
They also work together to decide which athletes should be included in registered testing pools (RTPs), with the BIU benefiting from the NADO’s country-specific knowledge, and both organisations able to work more cost-effectively as a result of the co-operation.
With in-competition testing, Whereabouts and anti-doping education also at the centre of their co-ordination efforts, the BIU’s work with Anti-Doping Sweden is typical of the way in which the BIU co-operates with NADOs in the countries in which the sport of biathlon is practised.
To listen to the podcast, click here.
Focus on intelligence & investigation
The BIU held a two-day workshop for National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) in Salzburg this week, as part of a long-term commitment to strengthening co-operation with its closest partners.
The goal of the workshop was to exchange experiences, discuss further sharing of resources and explore how to ensure that the quality of our anti-doping work remains high and identify any weaknesses in the system.
The fight against doping is not only about testing, as the BIU stressed during the workshop and in this podcast interview with Greg McKenna, head of the BIU.
Intelligence gathering and sharing information between organisations is just as important. And co-operation requires an understanding of how anti-doping systems work in other countries, including how NADOs work with law enforcement agencies in their countries.
The BIU will continue to hold regular workshops and meetings with its NADO partners, to ensure that our approach to the fight against doping is always led by intelligence and co-operation.
Mental health in biathlon
In our latest podcast interview we spoke to Olympic gold medallist turned mental health coach Marie-Laure Brunet about what mental health in sport means to her.
Marie-Laure is a French former biathlete who works with athletes to optimise and activate their potential, while helping them to overcome the obstacles they may face.
She has some great advice about what to do if you suspect that one of your teammates – or even one of your opponents – is suffering mental health difficulties.
Having suffered a collapse as a result of burnout at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, she speaks from experience, so her observations on the signs that might indicate mental health problems are worth listening to. She also explains how she would approach her career differently if she were to start again, and ends with some valuable tips to other athletes on maintaining their mental health.
Don’t miss this one!
To listen to the podcast, click here.
WADA Prohibited List updated
The World Anti-Doping Agency has issued an updated List of Prohibited Substances and Methods that will come into force on 1 January 2024.
Among the changes, the use of tramadol as a painkiller is now prohibited in-competition. The amendment was made after research studies, funded by WADA, confirmed its potential to enhance sports performance.
The recommended ‘washout period’ for tramadol will be communicated by WADA before 1 January 2024. The ‘washout period’ refers to the time from the last administered dose to the time of the start of the in-competition period.
Athletes and their entourages should familiarize themselves with all of the changes to the Prohibited List. Click here for a summary of the major modifications.
If a medication you use is on the list, you need to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) before using it. Find out more about TUEs in our newest video.
An average of one to five TUEs are issued in biathlon each year (for various types of medication for long-term or short-term usage), with no abuse of TUEs in the sport detected to date.
Always remember: if you need to use a medication for your medical treatment, you must make sure to check the Prohibited List before using it!
Preparing for the new season
“Be your own best friend”, says BIU athlete ambassador Chloe Levins.
With the new season fast approaching, the BIU spoke to its recently-appointed athlete ambassador, USA’s Chloe Levins, about preparing mentally and physically for the demands ahead, in its latest podcast interview.
Chloe has some great advice about eating healthily, the use of techniques such as visualisation, and how to avoid illnesses, such as cold and infections, when travelling to races.
Chloe also emphasises the importance for mental health of being able to switch off from racing. She herself makes sure that she always travels with a book to read, and stresses the value of meditative practices, whether it’s knitting or playing an instrument.
She concludes with this valuable tip for young athletes: “Frustration really is the thief of growth: it’s better to be your own best friend than your own worst critic in a sport like biathlon”.
Click here for the full interview.
BIU launches improved reporting hotline
The BIU has made some important changes to its online platform for reporting wrongdoing in biathlon.
Among the changes, the platform has been made more user-friendly, including its availability in three languages: English, Russian and German. What’s more, you can reach us via telephone and email. Feel free to use BIU Reporting Hotlineyour own language when sending an email of submitting a report.
And it’s not just about doping. The hotline is open to report any suspected breaches of the IBU’s governance, ethics and integrity rules.
The platform plays a crucial role in the BIU’s campaign to ensure that biathlon is a fair, clean and trusted sport. We depend on everyone involved in the sport, from athletes to national federation officers, being prepared to make use of the hotline if they see or hear something that isn’t right.
You are our eyes and ears. Even the smallest piece of information can make a big difference in helping to ensure the integrity of biathlon.
And remember: if you make use of the hotline, your identity and the information you give us will remain strictly confidential.
To access the platform and hotline, and for more details, click here.
Athlete vulnerability
A podcast interview with Cornelia Blank, professor and deputy head of the Institute for Sports Medicine, Alpine Medicine and Health Tourism at the Private University for Health Sciences and Health Technology UMIT TIROL in Hall in Tirol, Austria.
In our latest podcast interview we spoke to Cornelia Blank about athletes’ vulnerability, in particular to doping. What is athlete vulnerability, what influences it, how can coaches and others in authority spot the signs and how can we make athletes less vulnerable?
The podcast echoes a session on athlete vulnerability led by Cornelia during the IBU Academy Coaches Course Level 2 in Oberhof on 23 to 27 September, 2023. Twenty coaches from various countries participated, many of them extremely experienced national team coaches.
With a background in health sciences and psychology, Cornelia’s research focuses on prevention and health promotion in and by means of sport, giving her a unique insight into the topic.
Listen to the full interview here.
