Klaus Leistner, right, was vice-president for finance at the IBU for 13 years before becoming treasurer in 2019 ©Getty Images

Klaus Leistner has ended his 15-year spell as a member of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) Executive Board and stepped down as treasurer with immediate effect.

The worldwide governing body for biathlon has announced that the Austrian official has resigned from his role as treasurer.

Leistner became a member of the IBU Executive Board in 2006 when he was appointed vice-president responsible for finances and business affairs.

After 13 years in the position, Leistner became treasurer in 2019 and secured a fourth term as an IBU Executive Board member.

But Leistner, who stepped down as secretary general of the Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV) last year, has now left the IBU.

A statement from the IBU read: "The IBU together with the whole biathlon family today would like to thank Dr Klaus Leistner for his service as a member of the IBU Executive Board since 2006."

Leistner’s position is expected to remain vacant until the IBU Congress in September 2022 when elections for the Executive Board are scheduled to take place.

His departure reduces the number of members on the IBU Executive Board, led by Olle Dahlin, to 10 prior to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Leistner has been one of the longest-serving sports officials in Austria, having worked for the ÖSV for almost 50 years.

Born in 1945, the lawyer joined the ÖSV as the presidential secretary in 1971 and spent 43 years as secretary general at the association's headquarters in Innsbruck before stepping down last year.

Leistner has also held the position of chief executive at several companies in charge of organising major sporting events in Austria including IBU World Championships, and was widely reported to be involved in the International Ski Federation's new Alpine Future Vision Working Group.

Christian Scherer paid tribute to Leistner after replacing him as secretary general at the ÖSV.

"The ÖSV has benefited from his legal expertise over many decades," said Leistner.

"In the field of sports and association law, he is certainly one of the most prominent experts in German-speaking countries."

It is unclear whether Leistner will be moving into a new role, but he is listed as being chair of the International Ski Federation’s Committee for Advertising Matters on the ÖSV website.