Barrel direction: When carrying the rifle on the back, the barrel must point up (Rule 7.1.2). Rifles may be loaded and unloaded only with the barrel pointing toward the targets or up (Rule 8.5.2).; Rifle inspection: Rifles are checked before the start for weight, trigger resistance, dimensions an...
Source: Rule 7.1.2, Rule 8.5.2, Rule 4.2.2.1, Rule 8.5.1, Rule 3.4.1 — IBU Event and Competition Rules — Biathlon
Why people argue about this
People often assume that Range Officers can only halt a race if there's an immediate safety threat, but they forget that even routine checks like barrel direction and rifle inspections can be halted at their discretion for perceived safety issues, leading to misunderstandings about when exactly the authority kicks in.
