MOSCOW, Sep 16, Oleg Bogatov. Decision of the Congress of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) ) to keep in force the suspension of Russian athletes from participation in international competitions due to the fact that they are strong competitors and rivals are afraid of them, said three-time Olympic champion in biathlon and cross-country skiing Anfisa Reztsova. On Friday, the IBU Congress decided to uphold the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions until further notice. 39 national federations voted for this verdict, two voted against, five abstained. «Just bastards, what else can I say. Write it like that. It seems that they are simply afraid of our athletes as rivals, because we are the strongest power. I would like they saw and felt their rivals. But, apparently, they are afraid of us,» Reztsova said. Earlier, the IBU suspended Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions under its auspices and suspended the membership of the Russian Biathlon Union (RBU) and the Belarusian Biathlon Federation (BFB) against the backdrop of situation in Ukraine. These decisions were made in accordance with the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
