The International Biathlon Union (IBU) is suspending the national team coach for physically assaulting his athlete during the World Championships last winter.

Shortly after the World Championships in Lenzerheide in February this year, a full-blown conflict erupted within the Latvian Biathlon Federation. Biathlete Andrejs Rastorgujevs accused national team coach Ilmārs Bricis of having committed serious physical violence during the championships.

Rastorgujevs had to seek medical attention after the assault, which took place ahead of the single mixed relay.

He also missed the remainder of the season due to the injuries he sustained. These reportedly included a broken nose and a broken finger, as well as a severely injured shoulder. The biathlon star, who took silver in the mass start at last year’s World Championships, missed the entire remainder of the World Cup season.

Bricis, who is married to biathlete Baiba Bendika, stepped down from his role as national team coach after the case became public through Latvian media.

The scandal has now led to further consequences.

Investigated by IBU

The scandal has now led to further consequences. After the incident was made public, the ethics committee of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) investigated the matter.

The independent Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU) handles cases related to ethical issues, such as unsportsmanlike behavior, doping, betting, and match-fixing.

This committee has now concluded its investigation into Ilmārs Bricis and decided that the former national team coach is suspended for six months – see the full press release from BIU here.

“The coach has accepted the suspension. It covers all activity related to biathlon and is a consequence of him violating the IBU’s code of ethics in connection with the incident during the 2025 World Championships in Lenzerheide,” the IBU said in a statement.

The BIU stated that Bricis cooperated with the investigation, and this was taken into consideration in the sanction.

“He took responsibility for his physical behavior. It violates the ethical guidelines, the requirement for professional and respectful conduct, and the prohibition against physical abuse and behavior that endangers others’ safety,” the statement reads.

This means Bricis is suspended from July 17, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Accused the coach of stealing skis

The background of the conflict is reportedly a dispute over stolen skis.

Rastorgujevs is said to have confronted coach Bricis over an incident last winter, where a witness allegedly saw Bricis stealing one of Rastorgujevs’ pairs of skis. That’s when Bricis allegedly attacked Rastorgujevs.

The coach, on the other hand, told Latvian media that Rastorgujevs had accused nearly everyone in the support team, including the ski technicians, of stealing his skis.

According to a Latvian TV station, Rastorgujevs told Bricis during dinner that they needed to talk, but the coach refused to speak until Rastorgujevs apologized to the support staff.

Later that evening, Rastorgujevs went to the coach’s room and directly accused him of stealing the skis.

“We didn’t go so far as to fight, but we argued,” Bricis admitted.

“But none of us hit each other. We’re not boxers.”

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