According to Olle Dahlin, the chairman of the International Biathlon Union, the doubts about him are a political game to question his position.
The scandal of the former president of the International Ski Federation IBU Anders Besseberg has taken a new turn around.
Besseberg, who led the union between 1992 and 2018, is accused of, among other things, gross corruption and accepting bribes from Russian officials. He has denied the charges.
The case is currently being heard in court. The prosecutor demands Besseberg received a prison sentence of three years and seven months and a fine of around 90,000 euros. The verdict is scheduled to be announced on April 12.
Now Besseberg’s successor, the current president of the International Biathlon Union Olle Dahlin is the subject of a police investigation. Dahlin is being investigated by the Italian police.
Dahlin allegedly signed a similar contract with the Infront company, which sells and buys sports TV rights, as Besseberg had.
According to the prosecutor of the Besseberg trial, the contract signed by the former chairman must have been advantageous for Infront. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation According to NRK’s sources At the time of Besseberg, Infront got contracts well below the market price.
The company has acquired advertising space from the International Biathlon Union, for example in the World Cup and the World Championships.
A political game?
– I am completely shocked by these completely unfounded allegations and I strongly deny all of them, Dahlin wrote in an email sent by the IBU.
He doubts that the charges are a political game aimed at reducing his credibility as a leader of the union.
– I do not hesitate to take the necessary legal action to defend my name and reputation, Dahlin said.
– After becoming chairman in 2018, I have led a reform that ensures that our organization operates according to the best international practices, and which is independently monitored by the Biathlon Integrity Unit.
The independent Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU) has approved the agreement between the IBU and Infront. BIU investigates violations in biathlon, such as doping, corruption and illegal betting.
The 69-year-old Swedish boss told the Swedish public radio company for SVT that he heard about the suspicions a few days ago through the media and that he will meet with lawyers in Italy on Friday to get more information about the case.
According to SVT, Dahlin is sure that the Austrian police will come to the conclusion that there is nothing suspicious in the current Infront agreement and states that he is met as chairman correctly and ethically.