The sports association strips the corruption convicted Besseberg of his honorary membership – the lawyer reacts strongly

The Norwegian Sports Confederation announced the decision to strip Besseberg of the honorary degree at a press conference on Wednesday.

In the decision, it is stated that Besseberg, by having acknowledged objectionable circumstances in court, has damaged the reputation of the sport.

Besseberg (78) was recently convicted on almost all charges and sentenced to three years and one month in prison for gross corruption from his time as president of the International Biathlon Union (IBU).

He has appealed the sentence.

The 78-year-old’s lawyer Mikkel Toft Gimse reacts strongly to the message that Besseberg will not be allowed to keep his honorary degree.

– Anders Besseberg is not familiar with this. We are reacting to the fact that he has not been contacted, but learn about this from the media, Toft Gimse writes to NTB and elaborates:

– Besseberg emphasizes that the judgment against him is not legally binding and sees this as part of the preliminary judgment against him.

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Acting sports president Arne Bård Dalhaug stated following the corruption verdict that the sports association would make an assessment of Besseberg’s honorary membership.

Had to have time

Dalhaug then referred to the fact that the union had to be given time to familiarize itself with the reasons for the judgment.

– It is also important to emphasize that there are ongoing parallel legal proceedings outside Norway’s borders with very serious charges against Besseberg which have also not been concluded, said Dalhaug.

Besseberg was awarded honorary membership in NIF already in 2013.

Admittedly, he did not receive the award until 2015. In the justification for awarding the former top biathlete the honour, it was stated:

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“From 1988 to the present, Anders Besseberg has held positions of trust in the International Biathlon Federation, first in various technical committees, and as president from 1993. He has contributed to developing the sport of biathlon, both as a form of competition and as a televised sport”.

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Two honorary memberships

Besseberg is also one of three honorary members of the Norwegian Biathlon Union. He already became one in 2001. The legends Ole Einar Bjørndalen and Ole Jacob Bangstad are the other two.

Biathlon president Arne Horten has admitted that regardless of the appeal and the further legal process, several of the episodes Besseberg has acknowledged in court are unacceptable.

It is not known whether the biathlon association will also strip Besseberg of his honorary membership.