UPDATED: Olle Dahlin Wins Biathlon Presidency

(ATR) Olle Dahlin from Sweden is the new president of the International Biathlon Union.

The IBU vice-president defeated Baiba Broka of Latvia 39-12 in the election at the federation's annual congress in Porec, Croatia.

"I am very happy about the great confidence that the [national federations] have shown in me," Dahlin wrote in an email to Around the Rings following his election.

"That's important for my future work. I am also happy to see a strong newly elected EB. To restore credibility, it is now important to meet face to face with our stakeholders and to start with the good governance and anti doping tasks."

Dahlin replaces former IBU president Anders Besseberg, who stepped aside in April after being implicated in a doping scandal earlier this year.

The IBU also voted against reinstating the Russian Biathlon Union as a full member. The RBU will remain a provisional member as the fallout from the ongoing doping scandal continues.

With several decades of experience in biathlon administration, Dahlin was the favorite to secure biathlon's top job in what became a bitter contest with Broka. She criticized him over personal attacks and spreading rumors about Russian interference in her bid, claims which he vehemently denied to ATR.

The president of the Swedish Biathlon Federation and executive board member of the Swedish Olympic Committee vows to be "a president for all nations and all athletes".

"I will use my extensive experience in biathlon and business to take biathlon into a new era," he wrote in his campaign messaging, also vowing to implement concrete reforms "that will improve good governance and transparency".

He has committed to reviewing the IBU’s constitution in line with international best practice and to strengthen the sport’s anti-doping work to establish biathlon as "the clean sport".

Dahlin said he will work with member federations to develop a strategic plan based on to increase services to them and to drive innovation of thesport and enhance its events.

"We must work hard to show we are committed to good governance and financial transparency in order to restore and build the trust of our stakeholders as fast as possible. This will pave the way for increased revenues for investment in the development of biathlon worldwide."

Dahlin was backed by IOC member from Sweden Gunilla Lindberg, who sits on the Olympic committee’s ruling body, who said during his campaign that"he will deliver on his promises and his skills will be a great asset if you give him your trust and elect him".

The IBU also held elections for first vice president and its executive board.Jiri Hamza was elected to the post with 30 votes.

Six members were voted to the Executive Board for the IBU. Max Cobb received 43 votes, Tore Boygard received 37 votes, Dagmara Gerasimuk received 35, Franz Steinle received 34 votes, Ivor Lehotan received 22 votes, and James Carrabre recieved 21 votes. All six will serve with a four year mandate.

Broka ran for a position on the Executive Board, but did not win a seat.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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