Biathlon: Elvira Öberg questions potential Russian return — “Should Russians travel around Europe with weapons?”

Russia’s sports minister announced earlier in the day that Russian biathletes will appeal their suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), a move later confirmed by the International Biathlon Union (IBU).

Swedish stars Elvira Öberg and Sebastian Samuelsson reacted to the news. “It would feel very strange to see Russians here with weapons,” Samuelsson told SVT Sport, adding that he is not surprised by Russia’s appeal but regrets that legal battles again take center stage. He said he trusts the IBU’s regulations and does not think biathlon will end up in the same situation as some other sports.

Samuelsson emphasized that different federations have different rulebooks: “FIS has its, and the IBU has its,” he said, comparing it to how different legal systems can produce different outcomes. For him, it is “crystal clear” that Russian athletes should not be present in biathlon.

Elvira Öberg also commented on the development. While she understands why Russia would appeal, she feels very confident that the IBU will make sound decisions: “They have had a clear line and I trust them,” she said.

The report notes that a number of Russian and Belarusian cross‑country skiers will be allowed to return to international competition under FIS rules, beginning this weekend in Davos, Switzerland, highlighting a divergence between FIS and IBU approaches.