5th Regular

IBU CONGRESS

Nice FRA 26 - 29 Jun 2002 

1. Election for the Executive Board (appointed for 4 years) and with former incumbent in brackets:

      President (Besseberg NOR)

             Anders BESSEBERG NOR       

First Vice President (Mamatov RUS)

             Alexander TIKHONOV RUS       

 Vice President – Finances  (Zwatz AUT)

             Günther ZWATZ AUT          

 Vice President – Sport (Vodicar SLO)

             Janez VODICAR SLO                

 Vice President – Marketing  (Lahti SWE)

              Heinz BILLINO GER                  

             Vice President – Environment  (Prucker ITA)    

             Ubaldo PRUCKER ITA               

 Vice President – Information   (Magyar HUN)

             Ivor LEHOTAN SVK       

 Vice President – Special Issues  (new post)

            Myriam BEDARD CAN                

2. Election for the Technical Committee:

Norbert Baier GER                    

Max Cobb USA             

Esa Haapala FIN                       

Johnny Rognstad NOR  

Vadim Melikhov RUS     

Kalju Valgus EST                      

Robert Zwahlen SUI                   

Franz Berger AUT                     

Hérve Flandin FRA                    

Tommy Höglund SWE   

3. Election as Honorary Auditors:

                 Jorma Helen FIN                       

                 Ray Kokkonen CAN        

4. Drugs and Doping:

1. A number of motions concerning doping and blood doping, which were largely passed unanimously. Most important was a life ban for any person implicated in blood doping and for trafficking in drugs. NFs can be fined for not informing the Medical Committee of the use of admissible substances by athletes. NF will have all financial support withdrawn for one year if one of their officials is found guilty of a host of doping charges.

 ·         New IBU anti doping rules will be issued prior to start of season.

·         All athletes (WC and EC) are now subject to out of competition tests not just by UK Sport but by WADA (World Anti Doping Agency). 

2. The growing problem of asthma and its treatment was discussed at length. It is complicated and complex, and will be the subject of further consultation and instruction.

Biathlon is one of the “cleanest” sports in the World and it is the intention of the IBU to keep it that way. 

5. Major Rule Changes

1. WC Start Places. The “top 50 athletes” will all start at World Cups in addition to the existing number of start places. GBR thus has 3 start places for men, plus a relay for next season and 2 for women.

2. Junior Age.  An athlete currently becomes a senior on 1 November in the year of his / her “20^th birthday”. Congress agreed to increase this, but confusion has arisen in the translation of the new interpretation, and a final decision will be made in mid July as to whether the increase was for one year (to “21^st birthday”), or for 2 years (to “22^nd birthday”).

·         Whatever, all athletes who raced as Juniors in 2001 - 2002 will still be Juniors, and if there is a 2 year extension, those who were Juniors in 2000 – 2001 will be recalled as Juniors! 

·         The age for the new category of Youth will also be confirmed in mid July. 

3. Nations Cup Points.  Nations Cup points will be awarded to the best placed of 3 athletes

4. Women’s Relay.  The distance for Senior Women’s relay is now 4 x 6 km (as raced at the British Champs in 2002!) and for Junior Women 3 x 6 km.

5. Other Rule Changes.  There were numerous minor rule changes, often concerning procedure / advertising rights / TV support etc. The full rule changes will be published by IBU in good time for the forthcoming season, and should be available as a download.

6. Election for Junior and Youth World Champs 2005:

Kontiolahti FIN  

7. Election for Junior and Youth World Champs 2006:

Maine USA      

8. Election for World Champs 2007:

Antholz ITA                  

9. Award of Congress 2004:

Varna BUL

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