Anders Besseberg, former chairman of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), was sentenced to three years and one month in prison last year. This after the IBU's independent investigative commission presented evidence that Besseberg had received gifts in the form of watches, prostitutes, and hunting trips for "an undue favoritism of Russian interests".
The Norwegian appealed the verdict to the lagmannsretten, equivalent to the Court of Appeal, and on Wednesday, the five-week-long trial was concluded.
Regardless of the verdict, I have already reconciled with the thought that I will soon be buried as the scandal president. While I will be buried as "Mr Biathlon", says Besseberg, referring to the English term for biathlon.
For me, it is important to know what I myself have done, and that I have done my utmost for this sport for 50 years, he continued.
The prosecutor is demanding 3.5 years in prison and wants him to be fined 750,000 kronor. Besseberg directs criticism at the prosecution and the Norwegian Economic Crime Authority, Økokrim.
Unfortunately, I have heard very little evidence from the prosecutor, but there have been many assumptions, he says.
Anders Besseberg was the IBU's chairman for 25 years before he resigned in 2018. The verdict will fall at the turn of the month August-September. Besseberg denies any wrongdoing.
