The Russian Biathlon Federation threatens to resort to “CAS” in the event of deprivation of international membership

The President of the Russian Biathlon Federation Viktor Maygrove announced that he will apply to the Court of Arbitration for Sport “CAS” in the event of exclusion from membership in the International Biathlon Union.

On March 17, the International Biathlon Federation began suspending the Russian Federation and the Belarusian Federation.

The associations were given seven days to respond, after this period, the Executive Committee would consider the organizations’ responses.

“If we are denied membership for some reason, we need to explain why, at the same time, there must be criteria under which we can restore that membership,” Maygrove said.

He continued, “If there is a denial of our membership and there are no criteria that have been relied upon, then this is an illogical and not legal situation.”

And he added: “And in the event of our dismissal from the International Federation, we will prepare a response in time with the lawyers, if the decision [regarding the deprivation of membership] enters into force, there will be another lawsuit, so far there is no.”

The International Federation said in a statement that the reason for the temporary suspension of activity of the Russian Federation was “the failure to fulfill humanitarian obligations in the spirit of the Federation’s laws” against the background of the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

On March 2, the International Biathlon Federation temporarily suspended Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in international competitions.