WADA welcomes guilty verdict in Besseberg case

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) welcomes the guilty verdict by a court in Norway in relation to the former President of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), Anders Besseberg, who was on trial in connection to criminal corruption charges related to accepting bribes and other inducements, and favoring Russia while he was head of the IBU. The court sentenced Mr. Besseberg to three years and one month in prison. 

WADA initiated an investigation into this matter in November 2016 through its independent Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) Department. Information collected at that stage gave the criminal investigation its initial impetus and WADA investigators were in close communication with law enforcement authorities in Austria and Norway, as well as INTERPOL.  

This is another success for WADA I&I and its policy of collaboration with law enforcement and other stakeholders that are committed to doping-free sport. It shows once again that WADA will always act to do what is right for clean sport. Today’s verdict should be seen as a warning to other administrators who threaten the integrity of sport. WADA commends the diligence of the Austrian and Norwegian law enforcement, as well as the prosecutors who brought the case to court, in using WADA’s information and taking it further for the protection of clean sport. 

As with many WADA I&I investigations, this case was originally triggered by intelligence provided by a confidential source. WADA encourages anyone with information who wishes to help maintain the integrity of sport, to come forward in complete confidence via WADA’s whistleblower platform ‘Speak Up!’