The world champion was removed from today's mass start due to a gunshot in the hotel. What is known?

Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid had been withdrawn from the mass start of the third stage of the Biathlon World Cup in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, just hours before it began.

The decision was made by the International Biathlon Union in conjunction with the jury overseeing the men's mass start competition. It was due to a breach of IBU safety rules, which the athlete had violated while being at the hotel.

In the preparations before the race, Sturla mistakenly discharged his rifle instead of performing a safety check without any rounds. Despite no injuries occurring, he faced disqualification.

The IBU stated that their integrity assurance department has been informed and will collaborate with Swiss authorities investigating the incident, gathering additional information to determine if further actions are necessary.

In turn, Laegreid himself stated that he was very sorry for what he had done and pledged to cooperate with the investigation.

“I am deeply sorry for this incident, and strongly apologize to the whole biathlon family, my teammates, and the hotel owner for what happened. This is a brutal reminder for me and for all biathlon athletes - how important safety routines truly are”

Norway's national team sports manager, Per Arne Botnan, confirmed Norway's voluntary disclosure of the rifle incident to the IBU.

Sturla Holm Laegreid, the Olympic champion in the men's relay (2022), five-time world champion, holder of the Small Crystal Globe for individual races and pursuits, and a multiple stage winner of the World Cup, was included in Norway's record-breaking lineup of seven athletes for today's mass start. It's worth noting that he secured third place in yesterday's men's pursuit race.