Starting rules:

• In events with an interval start (individual and sprint), competitors leave the starting gate at fixed intervals. Specifically, one competitor starts every 30 seconds, and the winner is the biathlete with the lowest net time (time elapsed from start to finish, plus penalty time, if applicable).
• In the pursuit events, biathletes start according to their performance in the sprint events. The winner of the sprint starts first, and the rest of the competitors start at intervals that correspond to their time behind the winner in the sprint competition. In other words, if the sprint’s second-place finisher lost the sprint by eight seconds, they would start the pursuit eight seconds after the sprint winner starts. The winner of the pursuit is the biathlete who crosses the finish line first.
• In mass start events (the men’s 15km, women’s 12.5km and the three relays), all competitors line up across the starting line and start together. In the individual races, the athletes who cross the finish line first are the winners. In relays, the first competitor for each team starts together, and each subsequent team member begins when tagged by the incoming team member in the relay hand-over zone. The winner is the team whose final member crosses the finish line first.

Finishing rules:

• In the interval start events (the individual and the sprint), competitors are ranked according to their net times after any penalties (in the individual) have been assessed. Therefore, it is possible for two competitors to record the same total time, and to tie.
• There are no ties in the mass start, pursuit or relay events, in which the first competitor to cross the finish line is the winner. In those events, a photo-finish camera is used to record the finish. For any close finishes, the decision is made according to the first part of the first foot to cross the finish line.

Skiing rules:

• Competitors must ski the stipulated competition course in the correct sequence and direction on skis, carrying their rifle and the required number of magazines and rounds, and following the marked course precisely
• Athletes cannot use any propulsion other than skis, poles and their own muscular force
• All skiing techniques are permitted
• Competitors must carry the electronic transponder device provided by the event timing firm, during the competition, attached to one or both ankles as directed. This device is required for timing and other measuring purposes.

Shooting rules:

• Rifles must be carried on the competitor’s back with both arms in the rifle carrying harness and with the barrel pointing up
• If the rifle becomes so damaged during the competition that it cannot be carried on the competitor’s back, it must be safely carried in hand to the shooting range and then must be immediately exchanged for the team reserve rifle
• All shooting during training and competition must take place at the shooting range
• In a competition, competitors must shoot after having completed each of the required sections of the course for the competition, except the last section which ends at the finish or the relay hand-over
• Each time a competitor stops at the shooting range, they fire five rounds at five targets. The only exception to this rule is the relay event, in which competitors have three spare rounds for each time they shoot, so they have eight chances to hit the five targets before incurring a penalty.
• During any given event, half of the shooting rounds are conducted in the standing position and the other half in the prone position; the sequence varies according to the event
• Competitors are not allowed to remove their skis while shooting in either of the two positions

There are two shooting positions in Olympic biathlon events: prone and standing. Competitors must comply with specific restrictions regarding their body placement for each position.

Prone shooting position rules:

• The rifle can only touch the athlete's hands, shoulder and cheek
• The lower side of the wrist of the arm, supporting the rifle, must be distinctly raised from the ground (snow surface)
• Competitors may not remove their skis while shooting or place any kind of object under their skis

Standing shooting position rules:

• Competitors must stand without any support
• Only the athlete's hands, shoulder, cheek and the breast next to the shoulder may be in contact with the rifle
• The athlete's arm, supporting the rifle, may be held against the chest or propped against their hip
• Competitors may not remove their skis while shooting or place any kind of object under the skis

In Olympic biathlon events, if an athlete misses a target during a shooting bout they incur a penalty. Either extra time is added automatically to their finish time or they have to ski a penalty loop for each missed target, depending on the event.

In biathlon events where a 150m penalty loop is added for a missed target, the athlete must ski the loop once for every missed target immediately after the shooting bout.

Athletes or teams are disqualified from Olympic biathlon events for: 

• Violation of the eligibility and qualification requirements
• Appearing for the start of a race with materials, equipment, clothing or advertising not in compliance
• Appearing for the start of a race with the wrong start number, or no start number/thigh number, due to a mistake made by the athletes or their teams
• Violating the rules regarding official training, zeroing, warm-up and/or ski testing or safety regulations
• Receiving prohibited assistance from a member of their team staff or non-competing athletes from their team
• Avoiding start or finish inspections
• Taking part in a competition with a rifle not correctly marked
• Modifying equipment, rifle or clothing that has been inspected and marked at start inspection, in a prohibited way
• Participation in a competition with a start number or start number sequence color that has not been assigned to them on the competition start list, regardless of whether this is deliberate or due to a mistake made by the athlete or by their team.
• Deviating from the marked trail, or skiing a wrong trail, or skiing the course loops in a wrong sequence or in the wrong direction
• Using means of propulsion other than their own skis, poles and muscular force
• Not carrying their rifle while skiing during the competition, and for not carrying their rifle on the course, when it is not damaged, with the barrel pointing up
• Hindering another competitor on the course or at the shooting range by serious obstruction
• Exchanging a ski during the competition if the ski or binding is not broken
• Accepting unauthorized assistance from any person when repairing equipment, or receiving assistance other than authorized
• For applying any substances during a competition intended to change the glide performance of their skis
• Firing more than five rounds in any shooting bout of individual, sprint, pursuit, mass start competitions or more than eight rounds in relay competitions
• Using a second magazine instead of hand-loading lost rounds, replacement rounds for misfires, or spare rounds individually
• Violating any shooting safety regulations
• Exchanging a rifle for another rifle, after starting, in any other location than the shooting range
• Starting more than three seconds earlier than the assigned start time in a pursuit competition
• Failing to stop competing in the race after being lapped in the relay, pursuit or mass start final
• Removing one or both skis while shooting or placing any kind of object under the skis while shooting
• Committing a serious violation of the principles of fair play or the requirements of sportsmanship

Ski lane violation rules:

• If competitors ski on a wrong course section or the wrong sequence during an event, they must return to the point where they made the wrong turn or the part of the course they have skied in error. Athletes may have to ski against the correct ski direction to return and are fully responsible for not obstructing or endangering other competitors. There is no penalty for having committed the error as long as no other competitors have been impeded.
• In relay events, the first skier for each team must use the classic technique for the first 100m, so that the tracks are not disrupted for their fellow competitors. After the first 100m, the skiers may switch to the freestyle technique.
• An athlete who wants to pass another skier must let the lead competitor know their intention. The skier who is in front must move to the side of the trail to allow the trailing competitor to pass him easily. The skier who is being overtaken must move to the side on demand even if the trail is wide enough for passing. This rule does not apply to the 100m before the finish line or the 100m before the hand-over zone during a relay.
• An athlete must yell “track” if they want to pass another skier. A competitor who is about to be overtaken must clear the course in front of the passing competitor at the first yell of “track” or another voice signal, even if the course is wide enough. However, this rule does not apply in the finish corridors, pursuit, super sprint finals, mass starts and men's and women’s relays. 

Shooting lane violation rules:

• Athletes cannot disturb or obstruct other athletes with their body or equipment when taking their shooting position on the mats. This rule applies not only during the shooting bout but also when the skier departs the shooting lane.
• Athletes cannot remove skis on the mat or place anything under their skis
• In individual, sprint and super sprint qualification competitions, shooting lanes may be freely chosen by the competitor from among the targets that are ready in the correct sequence (prone or standing).
• In the pursuit, individual and sprint with group start competitions, athletes must go sequentially in the shooting lanes starting with lane one and taking the lowest available number, until the last shooting lane is reached, at which time the next competitor must go to lane number one and the process begins again.
• In mass start competitions, in the first shooting bout the competitors must shoot from the lane number designated by their start number, and in subsequent bouts by filling in the range sequentially from the right in the order of competitors’ arrival on the range. 

• In interval start events, if a competitor starts more than three seconds before the scheduled start time, it will be considered an early start
• If a competitor starts more than three seconds later than the scheduled start time, it will be considered a late start and the competitor’s time will begin from the scheduled time of start
• If there is a false start during a mass or group start event, officials in charge may fire a second shot and will stop the competitors who will re-start
• If the relay exchange occurs before or after the hand-over zone, it will be considered a false start and the procedure must be repeated within the zone

A race is finished in Olympic biathlon at the moment when an athlete's or a relay team’s competition time ends. The competitor’s time is the time between their start and finish plus any penalty time that may be imposed. The finish either is determined electronically by a sensor or manually when the athlete crosses the finish line with one or both feet. In relay competitions, the race is complete when the last member of the team crosses the finish line.

Protests in Olympic biathlon:

• Protests concerning a violation of rules by competitors and team staff, mistakes by officials, competition conditions and the unofficial results must be submitted in the time period from the start of zeroing before the competition until 15 minutes after the posting of the unofficial results.

Appeals in Olympic biathlon:

• An appeal may be made to the jury of appeal, within 15 minutes after the final results have been posted, including penalties and disciplinary measures imposed by the competition jury
• No appeals can be made regarding delay or postponement decisions

• The rifle must be carried on the back, with the barrel pointing up
• If the rifle is so damaged during the competition that it cannot be carried on the back, it must be carried in hand to the shooting range and then must immediately be exchanged for the team reserve rifle
• When a rifle is brought into or is taken out of the stadium area, it must be in a case or a cover bag. As a visible sign that there is no cartridge in the chamber, an additional safety marker (colored flag or lock) must be attached.
• Shooting only is permitted on the shooting range, during officially authorized times
• Making rifle movements that might endanger others or the competitors themselves, regardless of whether the rifle is loaded or not, is forbidden
• Rifles must be unloaded after each shooting bout. A round cannot be left in the chamber or in the inserted magazine. However, competitors are permitted to leave the cartridge case in the chamber and the empty magazine in the rifle after the last shot.