Sawt Falasteen - Corruption trial shines harsh light on Norway's biathlon boss

The 77-year-old Norwegian, who was head of the International Biathlon Union from 1992 to 2018, has been on trial near Oslo since January 9 on a charge of aggravated corruption, which he denies.

The five-week trial has been extensively covered in the Norwegian media, with a parade of more than 20 witnesses called to testify including Grigory Rodchenkov, the whistle-blower at the origin of revelations about organised Russian doping in the early 2010s.

"Why did the Russians want to corrupt Besseberg?" prosecutor Marianne Djupesland asked on the first day of the trial.

According to prosecutors, from 2008 to 2019 Besseberg was given three watches worth a total of more than 30,000 euros ($33,000), invited on trips to hunt deer and wild boar, and offered services from sex workers, all paid for by Russian officials.

He admits to receiving some gifts, but rejects any charges of corruption.

"I have no interest in watches nor any expertise about brands and their value," he said, describing himself a "simple farmboy."

Asked about an Omega watch worth more than 17,000 euros he received in 2011 for his 65th birthday, he said: "I did not think it was undeserved."

Despite his love of hunting, he said the organised trips did not affect any IBU decisions, over which he claims to have had little influence.

And he denies any contact with sex workers, acknowledging only what he said was a consensual affair with a 42-year-old Russian.

- 'Elephant in the room' -

As head of the IBU when the Russian doping scandal exploded in the 2010s, Besseberg was accused of initially hiding cases of Russian doping in his sport in exchange for favours.

Prosecutors dropped that line of attack, but in Norway, receiving improper favours, even if no services are provided in exchange, is enough to constitute corruption.

Russia remains the "elephant in the room", wrote the reporter from the Verdens Gang newspaper who is following the trial.

The prosecution has presented evidence that Besseberg was suspiciously complaisant with Russians while running the IBU.

The evidence includes a wire-tapped telephone conversation in December 2017 with Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen, where he defended the IBU's lack of reaction to the revelations about Russian doping.

During the same period, the IBU's secretary general, Nicole Resch of Germany -- who was also accused of corruption in a 2021 report -- was caught on tape saying that Besseberg was "insanely pro-Russian".

According to an inquiry launched by Sweden's Olle Dahlin, who succeeded Besseberg as head of the IBU, Besseberg pushed to hold the 2021 biathlon world championships in Tyumen, Siberia, despite the Russian doping scandals. The contest was eventually awarded to Pokljuka in Slovenia.

Russia isn't the only shadow hanging over the trial.

According to the accusation, Besseberg also went on fully paid hunting trips in Austria and in the Czech Republic, and for seven years drove a leased BMW X5, all paid for by Infront, a marketing company that held television rights to the sport.

The trial, being held in Hokksund, a city 60 kilometres (37 miles) west of Oslo, will last until February 16.

The charge of "aggravated corruption" carries up to 10 years in prison.

K.Hassan--SF-PST