Russia's biathletes are appealing their suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, prompting reactions from Swedish stars. Sebastian Samuelsson and Elvira Öberg express confidence in the IBU's rules and stress that Russian athletes should not compete.
Russia's sports minister, Michail Degtjarjov, announced on Thursday that the country's biathletes are appealing their suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), an appeal later confirmed by the International Biathlon Union (IBU). This comes as some Russian and Belarusian cross-country skiers are allowed to compete internationally again, starting this weekend in Davos, Switzerland.
Swedish biathlon star Sebastian Samuelsson is not surprised by Russia's move but regrets that legal battles are overshadowing the sport. "It's unfortunate that legal fights decide things, interpreting rules back and forth. But I trust the IBU's regulations and don't think we'll end up in the same situation as in other sports," he tells SVT Sport. Samuelsson emphasizes that rules differ between federations like the IBU and FIS, and for him it's crystal clear: "There shouldn't be Russians here." He adds that it would feel strange to see Russian athletes with weapons in Europe.
Elvira Öberg also reacts to the appeal. "I understand them, but I feel very confident that the IBU will make the right decision. They've had a clear line and I trust them," she says. Both Swedish stars highlight their confidence in the IBU's consistent handling of Russian and Belarusian athletes' participation, amid ongoing debates on sanctions linked to geopolitical tensions.
