Tim Farcnik takes over as President of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) in the first leadership transition since the institutional restructuring that began in 2018. The Slovenian, the sole candidate, was elected at the federation’s 17th Congress in Berchtesgaden, Germany, while Sweden’s Sofia Domeij was elected Vice-President. The transition brings Olle Dahlin’s tenure to a close and places a figure who already served on its Executive Board at the helm of biathlon.
Dahlin leaves office after completing the statutory maximum of two four-year presidential terms, as well as reaching the limit of three terms on the Executive Board. His departure therefore follows the institution’s own leadership renewal rules. Farcnik comes from within: he has held a seat on the Executive Board since 2022 and has experience organising competitions in Pokljuka, including the 2021 World Championships.
The transition after the 2018 crisis
Dahlin’s presidency began with a federation hit by corruption and doping scandals that had prompted the IOC to freeze its funding. During his tenure, a new Constitution was adopted in 2019, alongside reforms to oversight mechanisms. The creation of the operationally independent Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU) was one of the main responses to that crisis.
The BIU was given powers to investigate and prosecute breaches of the Integrity Code, as well as manage the IBU’s anti-doping matters. This oversight system is a central part of the structure Farčnik inherits: the presidential transition comes after the establishment of controls intended to operate independently of whoever leads the federation.
Farčnik’s priorities
“Target 2030 reflects everything that I stood for in 2022”, Farcnik wrote in his candidacy documents. His proposals identify priorities including narrowing competitive gaps through more tailored support for national federations, developing sustainable competitions and strengthening the commercial model. He also highlights the Loop One Festival as a way to reach new audiences and expand biathlon’s international presence. These are commitments from his candidacy, linked to the strategy the IBU already had in place.
The leadership renewal also extends to the vice-presidency with Domeij. Eleven candidates had stood for the other six elected Executive Board seats, while Treasurer Christian Scherer ran unopposed for re-election. With the full results yet to be verified, the extent of the team’s renewal cannot be determined beyond the changes in the presidency and vice-presidency. The candidates had previously passed the BIU’s vetting procedure.
Russia and Belarus: no new decision
The transition takes place with Russia and Belarus excluded from the IBU’s international competitions. Before the Congress, the federation announced that the status of the two national organisations was not among the items requiring a decision. However, the Executive Board’s Monitoring Group was scheduled to present a report on their situation and the suspension agreed by the 2022 Congress. No new decision or statement by Farcnik changing that position has been found.
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