Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) suspended the national federations of Russia and Belarus on Tuesday.
According to the IBU, both national federations (NFs) dragged the sport into shame and “violated the humanitarian obligations.”
In a statement, the IBU said, “These transgressions… bring the IBU and the sport of biathlon into shame.”
“It would be unfair for the NFs of the assaulting countries to continue to enjoy full IBU membership rights when their countries have disturbed the conduct of sport in Ukraine,” the IBU stated in a statement.
More than 3.8 million people have fled abroad more than a month into the battle, the worst attack on a European nation since World War II, many have been dead and maimed, and Russia’s economy has been battered by sanctions.
Russia calls its goal to disarm and “denazify” Ukraine a “special operation.”
