Ukrainian sportswoman Olga Kharlan has been disqualified from further participation in the World Fencing Championship after refusing to shake hands with Russian athlete Anna Smirnova, who was competing under a neutral flag, BBC reports.
During the championship in Milan, a red mark with the abbreviation "EXC" appeared next to Kharlan's name on the scoreboard, and the victory in the 1/16 final match was awarded to Yoana Ilieva from Bulgaria, although the actual bout between Ilieva and Kharlan did not take place.
The incident occurred after Olga Kharlan defeated Anna Smirnova in the 1/32 final at the World Fencing Championship. Instead of shaking hands with her opponent, Kharlan extended her sabre towards Smirnova. The Russian athlete remained on the platform for over half an hour, engaging in discussions with several individuals, presumably referees. However, the protest filed by the Russian side was eventually rejected by the International Fencing Federation (FIE).
According to FIE's regulations, which include Rule 122, prior to the start of each bout, both fencers are required to perform a fencing salute to their opponent, referees, and spectators. Similarly, when the last touch is counted, the bout does not conclude until both fencers perform the salute to each other, referees, and spectators. Failure to adhere to these rules may lead to penalties in the form of disqualification from the entire tournament and suspension from all competitions for 60 days, which falls under the most severe category of violations in fencing.
The Fencing Federation of Ukraine is preparing to appeal Olga Kharlan's disqualification. President of the organization, Mikhail Ilyashev, stated that they will challenge the decision because the referee who officiated the match between Kharlan and Smirnova did not issue a black card or disqualify Smirnova. He expressed concerns over the timing of the disqualification announcement, which occurred after determining Kharlan's next opponent, and a referee being appointed for the following bout.
Ilyashev expressed hope that the appeal process will be concluded soon. Nevertheless, he asserted that it is unlikely that Kharlan will be able to participate in the upcoming team competitions in Milan if the disqualification stands. He emphasized that there will be no neutral athletes competing in the team events.
Olga Kharlan participated in the World Championship one day after the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine modified the order to boycott competitions where Russian and Belarusian athletes are present. The revised order allows Ukrainian athletes to compete in tournaments where Russian and Belarusian athletes participate under neutral flags. Earlier, Ukrainian fencer Igor Reyzlin did not participate in the 1/32 final bout of the World Championship against Russian fencer Vadim Anokhin.
The order to boycott international competitions involving Russian and Belarusian athletes was signed by the Ukrainian Ministry of Sports in April in response to the International Olympic Committee's recommendation to reinstate Russian and Belarusian athletes under neutral status.
Following the disqualification of the Ukrainian fencer, the advisor to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Mikhail Podolyak, shared a photo on Twitter showing Anna Smirnova wearing a Russian Armed Forces cap while standing next to a young man in Russian military camouflage.
Podolyak criticized Smirnova's admiration for the Russian army, which he claims is responsible for killing Ukrainians and destroying their cities. He questioned whether FIE should take this position and if Russian money is tainted with blood.
In response, Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin supported FIE's decision, stating that the International Federation made the right choice by ensuring equality and fair competition based on the rules of the sport. He emphasized that such incidents are unacceptable.
The incident reflects the ongoing tension in sports diplomacy and the complexities involved in interactions between athletes from different nations. As the situation unfolds, the sports community and governing bodies will continue to navigate the complexities of diplomacy and competition on the global stage.
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