Russia-Ukraine battle: Fencer Olga Kharlan ban lifted as she is handed Olympic spot
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Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan has been handed a spot within the Olympics and had her World Championships ban lifted following her refusal to shake fingers with Russian Anna Smirnova.
She was disqualified after providing her sabre to faucet blades as an alternative of shaking fingers following her 15-7 win in Milan.
Worldwide Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach wrote a letter to Kharlan saying the physique would “allocate an extra quota place” to her if she couldn’t qualify due to her “distinctive scenario”.
In the meantime, the Worldwide Fencing Federation reinstated Kharlan on the championships, which can permit her to participate within the group competitors.
Earlier than the 2 bulletins, Kharlan mentioned: “At present is type of higher due to all of the help that I’ve.
“Guidelines should be modified. For Ukrainians, throughout this battle we simply cannot do handshakes, and you must change, and you must have some respect for us.
“When I’ve a selection… the place I shake fingers I’ll by no means shake fingers along with her. I am sorry however there’s something greater than Olympic Video games or license or fencing and at last I understood that, there’s something extra. The help for the Ukrainian individuals, it is unbelievable.”
Earlier than the IOC’s determination, the president of Russia’s Olympic Committee mentioned the physique had “picked a aspect” within the Russia-Ukraine dispute.
That was as a result of the IOC had responded to Kharlan’s preliminary suspension by encouraging sports activities federations to deal with Ukrainian athletes with sensitivity.
However Stanislav Pozdnyakov mentioned the IOC recommendation “clearly confirmed duplicity”.
“The assertion in query signifies that the IOC decided for itself and picked a aspect within the political battle, [and] started to behave within the pursuits of this aspect,” he mentioned on Telegram.
After Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the IOC imposed sporting sanctions on Russia and its ally Belarus however earlier this 12 months really helpful that Russian and Belarusian athletes may compete as people below a impartial flag and with no anthem.
Kharlan turned the primary fencer to face a Russian or Belarusian for the reason that invasion.
After the snub, Smirnova staged a 45-minute sit-down protest, leading to Kharlan, a four-time particular person world champion and four-time Olympic medallist, being proven a black card.
That dominated her out of the ladies’s sabre particular person occasion and it appeared she would miss the group competitors as properly earlier than the federation lifted her suspension.
She was competing on the World Championships after the Ukraine sports activities ministry reversed its determination to not permit Ukrainian athletes to compete in qualifying occasions for the 2024 Olympics if Russians are participating.
“We’re glad that they are going to be given this chance, and on the identical time we’re conscious of the tough interior conflicts they might have, given the aggression in opposition to their nation,” the IOC mentioned in an announcement it reiterated after Pozdnyakov’s feedback.
“Due to this fact, we encourage worldwide federations to deal with conditions involving Ukrainian and particular person impartial athletes with the required diploma of sensitivity.
“We proceed to face in full solidarity with the Ukrainian athletes and the Olympic group of Ukraine.”
Kharlan, 32, adopted the instance of Ukrainian tennis gamers resembling Elina Svitolina by not shaking fingers with Russian or Belarusian opponents, however Worldwide Fencing Federation (FIE) guidelines state that fencers should shake fingers.
She claimed that FIE president Emmanuel Katsiadakis had assured her that it was “doable” to not shake fingers and supply a contact of her blade as an alternative.
“I assumed I had his phrase, to be secure, however apparently, no,” Kharlan added.
