The Ukrainian biathlon team has withdrawn a world champion who served in the National Guard from the 2024 World Cup race

Biathlon world champion Dmytro Pidruchnyi will miss the individual race at the 2024 World Championships, which are currently taking place in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, Suspilne.Sport reports. The captain of the Ukrainian national team will be preparing to start in the single mixed relay (February 15) and in the classic relay (February 17). Pidruchnyi also retains his chances of qualifying for the mass start, which closes the World Cup program on February 18.

According to the 32-year-old from Ternopil, he really wanted to start, but the coach's decision was different.

"There are certain reasons why I should not start. I agreed with Yuriy Sanitra – not immediately, but I agreed," said Dmytro.

Pidruchnyi admitted that the reason for his exclusion from the race on February 14 was not only back pain.

"My arm is also bothering me and my physical fitness in general. I miss the amount of training I missed at the start of the season. If I had made it to the mass start, I would have done all seven races at the World Championships. Now it's a bit difficult for me. The 20-kilometer race in this weather is the most exhausting, so they decided to save me, especially since the next day is the single mixed relay," Dmytro summed up.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, on February 7, at the start of the World Cup, Pidruchnyi, along with Artem Pryma, Yulia Dzhima and Iryna Petrenko, took part in a mixed relay.

Dmytro ran the second stage and finished ninth, 48 seconds behind the leading French team. The Ukrainian slipped significantly in time, passing the baton to Gima with a lag of +1:29.9.

Earlier, Pidruchnyi spoke about his service in the National Guard. The 30-year-old native of Ternopil joined the Armed Forces immediately after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

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