The world of biathlon has been rocked by allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct, with some of the sport’s top officials now under scrutiny. In a stunning development, Max Cobb, the secretary general of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), issued a public apology to any athletes who were mistreated during his tenure at U.S. Biathlon.
Cobb’s apology comes in the wake of multiple Associated Press reports detailing disturbing accounts from former female biathletes who claim they were subjected to sexual abuse and harassment by their coaches and other officials. According to these women, their concerns were largely ignored or dismissed by those in power, who prioritized winning medals over holding abusers accountable.
A Culture of Abuse
The allegations paint a troubling picture of a toxic culture within U.S. Biathlon that dates back decades. Women described a pervasive atmosphere of misogyny and mistreatment, where they were routinely subjected to inappropriate behavior and advances from male coaches and officials.
We just heard point-blank, crystal clear, they did know and did not investigate,
– Drew Hudon, Colorado Biathlon Club Vice President
Despite reporting these incidents, the women say their complaints fell on deaf ears. In many cases, the men involved not only escaped punishment but were actually promoted within the organization. Meanwhile, the female athletes who spoke up often saw their own careers derailed as a result.
SafeSport Investigations Underway
In light of these revelations, the U.S. Center for SafeSport has launched multiple investigations into the alleged misconduct. Max Cobb himself has been named in a SafeSport complaint filed by a former biathlete who claims he dismissed her report of an attempted sexual assault by her coach.
Another athlete, Grace Boutot, came forward at the U.S. Biathlon Association’s annual meeting to confront Cobb and other board members directly. Boutot accused them of ignoring the sexual abuse she suffered from two different coaches, abuse that ultimately led her to attempt suicide.
Other people were aware of what happened, and they did not reach out to me to investigate after my suicide attempt,
– Grace Boutot, former U.S. biathlete
A Reckoning for the Sport
The biathlon scandal comes on the heels of similar reckonings in other sports, where long-buried histories of abuse have finally come to light. From gymnastics to figure skating, athletes are increasingly speaking out about the mistreatment they’ve endured at the hands of coaches and officials.
For biathlon, the road ahead is uncertain. While Cobb and U.S. Biathlon CEO Jack Gierhart have vowed to cooperate with SafeSport investigations and enact reforms, many athletes remain skeptical. Trust in the organization’s leadership has been severely eroded, and rebuilding it will be no easy task.
This is an ongoing process – it’s a journey,
– Jack Gierhart, U.S. Biathlon CEO
As the investigations unfold and more victims potentially come forward, the international biathlon community will be watching closely. The sport faces a moment of reckoning – one that could determine its future and the safety of athletes for generations to come.
For now, Max Cobb’s apology stands as an acknowledgement of the pain and trauma endured by too many athletes for too long. But words alone will not be enough to heal the wounds or restore the broken trust. Only through decisive action, transparency, and a true commitment to change can biathlon hope to emerge from this scandal stronger and more accountable than before.
