On April 23, the Borgarting Court of Appeal in Norway reopened the case of Anders Besseberg β the former president of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) and a central figure in one of the most notorious corruption scandals in winter sports. Besseberg, who led the IBU for over 25 years, was convicted in 2024 but appealed the verdict, continuing to deny any wrongdoing.
What Is Besseberg Accused Of?
In April 2024, the court found Besseberg guilty of accepting bribes, engaging with escorts, and participating in luxury hunting trips in Russia, Austria, and the Czech Republic β which investigators claim were used as forms of bribery. He was sentenced to 3 years and 1 month in prison.
Besseberg has firmly denied all accusations, which led to this appeal and a full retrial β this time involving a large number of witnesses.
Who Will Testify?
A total of 23 key figures from the biathlon and anti-doping world are expected to give testimony, including:
- Grigory Rodchenkov, former head of the Moscow anti-doping lab
- Olle Dahlin, current IBU President
- Max Cobb, IBU Secretary General
- Nicole Resch, former IBU Secretary General
- Officials from the Norwegian Biathlon Federation
- Greg McKenna, head of the IBU Ethics Committee
The trial is scheduled to last 21 working days, underscoring the scale and gravity of the case.
The Fall and Its Fallout
In 2023, an independent ERC commission accused Besseberg of systematically protecting Russiaβs interests in anti-doping matters β essentially acting as a go-between for the Russian federation and international authorities.
Since then, his professional downfall has been swift:
- In January 2024, the IBU banned Besseberg for life from holding any official role within the organization
- In March 2025, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the lifetime ban from all sports-related positions
Whatβs Next?
This appeal trial is Bessebergβs final shot at altering his fate β and possibly salvaging a shred of reputation. But given the severity of the charges and the sanctions already upheld internationally, the odds of redemption are slim.
Still, the Besseberg case remains a landmark in the sports world β a stark reminder that corruption, even at the highest levels, eventually sees the light of day.
