The controversy surrounding Sivert Bakken’s death is intensifying – the coach denies the Norwegian newspaper’s information

International biathlon community was shocked in December when the Norwegian national team star Sivert Bakken died suddenly at a training camp in Italy. Bakken was only 27 years old when he died.

Italian police are still investigating Bakken’s death. Bakken was found in his hotel room with an oxygen-limiting mask on his face, which was adjusted to simulate an altitude of 7,000 meters. It remains unclear whether the mask contributed to Bakken’s death.

Norwegian Dagbladet including the development director of the Norwegian biathlon team Anders Hennum and national team coach Anders Överby were aware that Bakken had obtained the mask for his use.

“We are aware that four national team athletes have acquired equipment that simulates oxygen supply at different altitudes. Bakken was one of these four,” Hennum and Överby state in their joint statement to Dagbladet.

Norwegian General Secretary of the Biathlon Union Emilie Nordskar has previously revealed that some of the union’s personnel knew about Bakken’s mask. Hennum and Överby confirmed to Dagbladet that they are among these people.

“The use of the equipment in question has not been part of the national team’s training program. Acquiring the equipment has been the athletes’ own decision,” the duo’s statement states.

According to information from Dagbladet, a professor working as a consultant for the national team Bent Rönnestad however, has given the Norwegian national team athletes information about the company that manufactures the masks, the Spanish Altitude Zone.

Hennum and Överby deny that they are aware of the discussions between the athletes and Rönnestad.

“The coaches of the national team have not discussed with Bent Rönnestad the use of equipment that simulates different heights,” the statement signed by Hennum and Överby states.

Sieve The Bakken autopsy report was scheduled to be completed by March 7. Last week, however, it was reported that the completion of the report may be delayed by several more weeks.