Biathlon: we’ll have to wait and see why Sivert Guttorm Bakken died
This Tuesday afternoon, the law firm Elden Advokatfirma – which is defending the family of the deceased – issued a press release giving an update on the situation, a week after the sudden death of Norwegian Sivert Guttorm Bakken at just 27 years of age.
The report begins by stating that forensic examinations (including an autopsy) of the biathlete’s remains were carried out over the weekend in Italy, where he died in his hotel room in Lavazè (Italy). However, “[they] will not provide any answers before March next year”.
“Neither the family nor we have received any information about any findings from the forensic examinations”.
“We had hoped that the family would have had some answers by now, but that won’t happen for several months,” laments Bernt Heiberg, the Bakken family’s lawyer. It is also stated that the Italian police are investigating a “suspicious death”. This does not mean that foul play is suspected, but simply that the cause of death is not yet known,” it says. Since Friday, lawyer Oline Bredeli has been in Italy to follow the investigation on behalf of the family.
It should be noted that the Italian public prosecutor’s office has given the forensic experts until 7 March to finalise their examinations and submit their report. Unlike in Norway, no preliminary report will be published. ” Once the forensic report is available, the police investigation will continue, and it is not yet known when its conclusions will be made public”, reveals Elden.
“Neither the family nor we have received any information about any findings from the forensic examinations, and the family will not know what caused the death until March”, insists lawyer Bernt Heiberg.
His body will be repatriated to Norway in the next few days.
At this stage of the investigation, “there is nothing to confirm or deny a possible link between the death and the use of so-called altitude training simulation equipment. Several technical seizures have been made and will be examined by the police in the coming weeks. The police will also be routinely gathering medical information from the Norwegian health system.
“We strongly urge the sporting world and the press to refrain from any speculation on the possible causes of Bakken’s death, out of respect for his family. The need for sport to evaluate the use of altitude simulation equipment must be done independently of Bakken’s death”, emphasises Bernt Heiberg.
“Even though the press states that the cause of death has not been established, it systematically associates this tragedy involving a young athlete with the use of perfectly legal altitude simulation equipment, without the slightest element to establish a link. Some media have even gone so far as to link the death to his previous medical history [the myocarditis he suffered in 2022, editor’s note]. This is serious and deeply hurtful for his family and friends”, he continues.
Finally, it is explained that the body of Sivert Guttorm Bakken will be repatriated to Norway “in the next few days so that the family can organise his funeral”.
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- After the death of Sivert Guttorm Bakken, Olympiatoppen temporarily advises Norwegian athletes against “using simulated altitude”.
- “We urge caution in dealing with details of the death”: Sivert Guttorm Bakken’s family lawyer speaks out
- “Christmas Eve was a very difficult day”: mourning the death of Sivert Guttorm Bakken, Karoline Simpson-Larsen will be at the start of the Tour de Ski
- “To honour and commemorate the devoted and wonderful person he was”: former girlfriend of Sivert Guttorm Bakken, Juni Arnekleiv will take part in the World Team Challenge
