Anders Besseberg ruled the biathlon world for several decades. Now the Norwegian is supposed to go to prison because of various missteps during his time.
Buskerud – Nine hits from ten shots is a decent result in biathlon. Anders Besseberg would also have been happy with this as an active ski hunter. This time, however, such a quota puts him behind bars for several years. The public prosecutor's office was successful in this case, charging the long-time boss of the World Biathlon Association IBU with ten counts.
Biathlon boss Besseburg should be in custody: convicted of serious corruption
As
NRK
, the Norwegian public broadcaster, reports, Besseberg was found guilty of nine of them in the Buskerud District Court and sentenced to three years and one month in prison. He also has to return gifts worth 1.4 million Norwegian krone (NOK) – around 120,000 euros. The 78-year-old is accused of serious corruption. Specifically, it concerns watch trading, prostitution, hunting trips or car trading in the period between 2009 and 2018, i.e. his last decade at the top of the IBU. He filed an appeal on the spot.
“I am of course disappointed and surprised by the verdict and some of the judges’ reasons,” said Besseberg after the verdict was read, which lasted almost three hours. The judge also pointed out that the long period of investigation played a role in the verdict, but not the age of the defendant.
Besseburg sentenced to prison: Defense attorney “strongly disagrees” with the verdict
Besseberg's defenders also emphasized that they want to continue fighting for him. “We do not agree at all with the result and the reasoning,” Mikkel Toft Gimse is quoted by
NRK
: “We are surprised that he was not believed at all. They only emphasize what speaks against him, but overlook what speaks for him.”
The public prosecutor's office originally demanded a prison sentence of three years and seven months, a fine of one million NOK - almost 86,000 euros - and the confiscation of assets amounting to 1.45 million NOK - almost 125,000 euros. Prosecutor Marianne Djupesland spoke to
NRK
of a “thorough verdict” that corresponded to what had been hoped for.
Besseberg and the Russian officials: Watches and services accepted by prostitutes
Besseberg is said to have accepted bribes from Russian officials, among others. During the 2011 World Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk, he is said to have received a watch from Russian biathlon director Sergei Kushchenko, the value of which is estimated at almost 17,000 euros. He is also said to have received a watch from four-time Olympic relay champion and later IBU Vice President Alexander Tikhonov, which is said to be worth around 3,500 euros.
The judge also noted: “It can be proven beyond a doubt that he used sexual services even though he knew that they were sent by Kushchenko or the organizer.” In this way, the Russian camp had “something” against Besseberg in the case had hand.
Between 2016 and 2018 he is said to have met and had sexual intercourse with a Russian woman. He was aware that she was a prostitute. Several telephone conversations between her and Besseberg were intercepted. However, it has not been proven with certainty whether he also accepted prostitution offers from the Russian biathlon director Yevgeni Redkin.
Judgment against ex-biathlon boss Besseberg: hunting trips before the World Cup and a leased BMW
The Norwegian was also convicted of hunting trips to Russia in 2013, 2015 and 2018. In the first case, he is said to have first inspected the new winter sports center in Tyumen and then went hunting, but that was hardly possible in terms of time. His second hunting trip to Tyumen eight years later occurred during the period when the location was considered a candidate for hosting the Biathlon World Championships.
As early as September 2016, and therefore surprisingly early, the West Siberian city was awarded the contract for the 2021 World Championships. However, this was later revoked from Tyumen in the course of the far-reaching investigation into systematic doping in Russian sport and the McLaren report published on it.
There were also sponsored hunting trips to Austria and the Czech Republic. From 2011 onwards, Besseberg is said to have used a BMW, the leasing costs of which were covered by the media company Infront. The value here is given as around 73,000 euros.
The process took almost six weeks in total. Now the extension is apparently pending. Or to stay in biathlon language: Besseberg goes into the penalty loop.
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