Decision on non-participation of Ukrainian biathletes in the last stage of the World Cup, which will be held in Tyumen on March 20-25, was accepted by the Ukrainian team under the pressure of politicians. This was announced today by the president of the Russian Biathlon Union Alexander Kravtsov to the agency RIA Novosti. He noted that with the Ukrainians, the SBR had preliminary agreements on their trip to both Tyumen and the IBU Cup in Uvat, which was held from March 7 to 11 and where, by the way, the representatives of Nezalezhnaya were. "I think that the decision to skip the stage in Tyumen was taken under certain pressure from the sports, and perhaps the political leadership. But it's not that, but that punished the athletes, depriving them of the opportunity to compete and, consequently, to fight for higher rating places and more profitable starting positions in the World Cup next season, "said Kravtsov. He expressed bewilderment by the fact that the Biathlon Federation of Ukraine does not intend to participate in the KM Tyumen stage, "motivating it by the fact that it is unacceptable for them to come to Russia," while simultaneously sending athletes to Uvat for the IBU Cup, as well as the Czechs "who very actively called for boycott competitions in Russia ". "Is this double standards?" - added the president of the SBR.

Earlier on Tuesday, March 13, Minister of Youth and Sport of Independent Igor Zhdanov wrote on Facebook that the Ukrainian biathlon team refused to go to the last stage of the World Cup in Tyumen. According to him, this decision was made during a meeting with the president of the FBU, Vladimir Brinzak. "The state has no right to interfere in the activities of sports federations as separate public organizations. But all the rules have exceptions. Because we are talking about an aggressor country, a country that systematically neglects international law, including in the sphere of sport, does not observe anti-doping rules, "the Ukrainian minister believes.. International Biathlon Union (IBU) on February 14 at the meeting of the executive committee in Pyeongchang left behind Tyumen the right to host the final stage of the World Cup. Someone among foreign athletes this decision outraged. In the US, the actions of the IBU were called unacceptable and declared a boycott of the Russian stage. Americans supported the national teams of Canada and the Czech Republic. It should be noted that the last stage of the IBU Cup will also take place in Russia - in Khanty-Mansiysk, from 13 to 17 March. As for the rating of Ukrainians in the World Cup, among the men's team they enter the top ten only in the relay race, exactly at this moment closing it.

Women are much better off there. So, Vita Semerenko goes in the overall standings eighth; in the cup of nations the women's team was fixed on the 3-1 line; in the individual race - Julia Jima takes 2nd place, and Valya Semerenko - 4th. In the top ten in the sprint and the pursuit race is Vita Semerenko (8th and 6th positions respectively), and also the relay team of Ukrainians reached the 4th place. In Tyumen points will be played in sprints, pursuit races and mass start.