IBU President: Pyleva must start legal proceedings with Shchelkovo vitamins plant

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Russian biathlete Olga Pyleva, disqualified because of doping in Olympic Games in Turin, may and must defend her good name in law proceeding against plant, which product contained forbidden, but not annotated, chemical carphedon, President of International Biathletes Union Norwegian Andreas Besseberg expressed such opinion, interviewed by Ves Sport Agency.

Besserberg told: “I met with Russian sport managers of different levels because of Olga Pyleva’s case. All of them insist the forbidden chemical carphedon accidentally fell into Olga Pyleva’s organism – together with medicine, produced by Shchelkovo vitamins plant. The medicine’s annotation did not indicate any chemicals, contained in a list of forbidden ones. I believe, if it is really so, Pyleva may and must defend her good name in law proceeding against the plant. A similar process is about to happen in Norway now. Two biathletes, whose names will not say anything to you, because they compete exclusively at the national level, were indicated to have doping. The guys insisted it had fallen into their organisms with not annotated food second helping. They proved it, having arranged expertise of the substance. Then, at once, they brought an action against the firm, which produced that second helping. As far as I know, the case goes on in favor of them. The incident may and must be a good example for Olga Pyleva.”

Also, Besseberg said, he does not see reasons to reduce Olga Pyleva’s disqualification and furthermore to discharge her by IBU, even if she will succeed in winning the case against the plant, which production contained forbidden, but not annotated, chemical carphedon. “IBU rules are strong, but everybody, who competes under its jurisdiction, must unconditionally accept them. Forbidden doping chemical was found in Pyleva’s tests. How did it get into organism: intentionally or accidentally? This fact does not worry us. Disqualifying Pyleva for period of two years, we followed the letter of the law. Believe me, there is nothing personal here. I like biathlete Olga Pyleva very much. But, she broke rules,” said Andreas Besseberg.