PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Anders Besseberg, former chairman of the International Biathlon Union, was sentenced to three years and one month in prison for gross corruption.
The verdict pleases Swedish biathlon star Sebastian Samuelsson.
The former president of the International Biathlon Union Anders Besseberg sentenced to three years and one month in prison for gross corruption. The court convicts the Norwegian for, among other things, having received exclusive watches and accepting sexual services from prostitutes.
– I am of course disappointed and surprised by the verdict and part of the judge’s reasoning. I am appealing the verdict on the spot, says Besseberg in court, according to VG.
The Norwegian was chairman of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) for more than 25 years. Since 2017, Besseberg has been investigated together with the IBU and its top management by the Austrian police for having received the equivalent of 2.5 million kroner to hush up Russian doping cases.
– I am very happy and relieved about the verdict. I think it feels fantastically good, says Sebastian Samuelsson to Radiosporten.
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When asked what he thinks was the worst of what Besseberg did as chairman, he answers:
– I think the most serious thing was what was not included in the trial at all. Covering up Russian doping. What I thought was good was that it was still so clear that he took into account Russian interests and always made sure that Russia would have the best possible time, Samuelsson continues:
– I and many others have felt that.
Besseberg was convicted of receiving gifts from Russia in the form of watches, sexual services from prostitutes, hunting trips, and a leased car – during his last nine years in the IBU post.
– Individual events are one thing, but when you put the whole puzzle together, it is very clear that he was receptive to outright bribes. That’s not how it should go, says Samuelsson to Radiosporten.
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