Fencing World Cup, Olha Kharlan disqualified, IOC intervenes

Fencing World Cup, Olha Kharlan disqualified, IOC intervenes

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged sports federations to show sensitivity in handling confrontations between Ukrainian and Russian athletes competing as neutrals, following today’s disqualification of Ukrainian Olha Kharlan at the World Fencing Championships in Milan.

Four-time world saber champion Kharlan was disqualified in a decision described as “absolutely shameful” by the Ukrainian presidency for not shaking hands with her Russian opponent Anna Smirnova, against whom she had won and who had taken the piste in Milan as a “neutral athlete.”

Kharlan, 32, had been given the green light to compete in the morning after the Ukrainian Sports Ministry changed its previous policy of preventing its athletes from facing Russians or Belarusians competing as neutrals. The ministry’s change of course reduced the chances of a boycott of Ukraine at the Paris Olympics.

“This decision will allow Ukrainian athletes to participate in international competitions and enable them to qualify for the Paris 2024 Games,” is the comment of an IOC spokesperson. “We are pleased that they are being given this opportunity, and at the same time we are aware of the difficult internal conflicts they may have, given the aggression against their country. Therefore, we encourage international federations to handle situations involving Ukrainians and neutral athlete individuals with the necessary degree of sensitivity. We continue to stand in full solidarity with Ukrainian athletes and the Olympic community of Ukraine.”