What Happened Behind the Scenes?
The Alliance Discussions Between USBA and USSS — Paused or Withdrawn Amid Serious Allegations
Commentary & Analysis submitted to Team Independent Biathlon by James B. Galanes.
Galanes examines the September 9 Board meeting, information and allegations that surfaced immediately before it, and questions he believes remain for the U.S. biathlon community.
Galanes reports that the planned vote did not occur and the Board entered executive session after receiving significant new information. Members waiting online were not subsequently brought back for an explanation of the outcome.
The article discusses allegations in the Shepard/Schafer letter and a reported anonymous recording of an internal USSS discussion.
Galanes asks who authorized the process, what information and due diligence the Board relied upon, what role USSS played, and why athlete, club and member concerns were not addressed openly before a vote was scheduled.