The IBU's independent investigation commission has previously presented evidence that Besseberg received gifts in the form of watches, prostitutes, and hunting trips for "unacceptable favoritism towards Russian interests". A year ago, the now 79-year-old Norwegian was sentenced by the district court to three years and one month in prison for gross corruption.
The trial is currently underway, where Besseberg's appeal against the verdict is being handled, and he himself denies any wrongdoing.
Previously, he stated in a police interview that he and the Russian woman had sex, something he did not want to discuss during last year's trial.
Besseberg has previously stated that they met during a dinner in Russia in 2016, when she was with a group of women at a nearby table.
I had no suspicions that these women were prostitutes, says Besseberg on Friday.
According to Økokrim, the Norwegian economic crime authority, it was prostitution arranged by Russian authorities to influence Besseberg in his role as chairman of IBU.
Besseberg has been accused of being bribed to cover up Russian doping in biathlon, but the allegations were never included among the charges in the district court last year. Instead, the case continues to be investigated in Austria.
The trial is expected to continue until May 20.
