Olga Kharlan, an Olympic champion fencer from Ukraine, was once disqualified from the arena championships after no longer shaking fingers after beating an opponent from Russia within the first spherical.
Kharlan gained the bout 15-7 over Anna Smirnova from Russia. The World Fencing Federation (FIE), like some sports activities federations, permits athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in a impartial capability with out their nationwide flag and anthem.
After the bout, Smirnova reached for a handshake, which is a minimum of commonplace if no longer required within the recreation. Kharlan put out her sabre sword, both to recognize Smirnova (a tradition allowed to switch a handshake right through the pandemic, however no longer anymore), to stay her distance from Smirnova or each.
Smirnova then spent about 50 mins at the strip, part of it sitting in a chair, whilst from time to time talking with a minimum of 3 other officers. It behind schedule pageant.
Kharlan was once later given a “black card,” getting rid of her from the remainder of the person pageant. Smirnova was once no longer complicated, even though.
The FIE has no longer mentioned why Kharlan was once disqualified. Kharlan has no longer commented but. Smirnova and her coaches declined remark.
The Ukraine Fencing Federation mentioned that it was once deeply outraged by way of Kharlan’s disqualification and was once making ready an enchantment. It mentioned that Kharlan was once disqualified after Smirnova protested that Kharlan confirmed a loss of appreciate.
FIE rule t.122B states that fencers will have to “salute and shake fingers with their opponent” after a bout. If no longer, the foundations state that the fencer faces disqualification.
This tale can be up to date as additional information turns into to be had.
The contest was once the day after the Ukraine govt modified a coverage and gave the OK for its athletes to compete in Olympic qualifiers in opposition to person athletes from Russia and Belarus who’re taking part in a impartial capability.
The former coverage, from March 31, really helpful no longer competing in opposition to Russians and Belarusians in any capability.
That ended in Ukrainian athletes no longer competing at occasions in different sports activities, together with international championships, the place athletes from Russia and Belarus had been admitted as neutrals. On the other hand, Ukrainians and impartial athletes from Russia have confronted each and every different in a minimum of one different recreation, tennis, the place the Olympic qualifying window started in June.
A central authority file posted Wednesday added the impartial language as an exception.
It isn’t recognized if Ukraine’s coverage will lengthen to the Paris Olympics, the place athletes from Russia and Belarus who qualify may well be allowed to compete with out nationwide illustration. A last resolution on participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus on the Olympics has no longer been made.
In March, the IOC up to date its suggestions to global sports activities federations relating to Russian and Belarusian athletes, advising that they may be able to go back to competitions outdoor of the Olympics as impartial athletes in person occasions simplest and provided that they don’t actively give a boost to the struggle in Ukraine. That coverage was once cited by way of the Ukraine govt in Wednesday’s file.
After Ukraine’s earlier coverage was once introduced in March, Kharlan mentioned, “As a Ukrainian citizen, it’s tricky to even believe learn how to stand subsequent to [Russians], to understand that they’re supporting or they’re in silence and we haven’t heard any phrase from them or we all know that they constitute military that’s shelling Ukraine each day.”
Kharlan is certainly one of Ukraine’s maximum adorned athletes throughout all sports activities with 4 Olympic medals and 15 international championships medals.
At worlds, fencers from Ukraine and Russia had been drawn to stand each and every different within the first spherical in the one two conceivable circumstances out of the six person major draw competitions with fields of 64.
On Wednesday, prior to the coverage trade, Ukraine epee fencer Ihor Reizlin passed Vadim Anokhin from Russia a walkover victory, generating a scientific certificates for his absence, in keeping with Agence France-Presse.
NBC Sports activities’ Charlotte Edmonds contributed reporting from Milan.
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