Ukrainian fencer Olha Kharlan was awarded a place in the 2024 Paris Olympics by the IOC on Friday after she was disqualified at the world championships for refusing to shake the hand of her Russian opponent.

The International Fencing Federation (FIE) also said it was reinstating Kharlan, allowing her to take part in the team competition at the world championships in Milan.

Emmanuel Katsiadakis, the Greek president of the FIE, said the decision had been taken “after consultation with the International Olympic Committee”.

Kharlan, the first fencer to face a Russian or Belarusian since the former’s invasion of Ukraine, won 15-7 against Russia’s Anna Smirnova on Thursday.

The 32-year-old four-time Olympic medallist refused Smirnova’s handshake afterwards, instead offering her sabre to tap blades, but FIE rules state that the two fencers must shake hands.

Smirnova staged a 45-minute protest and refused to leave the competition strip.

Kharlan was disqualified, claiming afterwards that Emmanuel Katsiadakis, the Greek president of the FIE, had even assured her that it was “possible” not to shake hands and offer a touch of her blade instead following her victory.

“I thought I had his word, to be safe, but apparently, no,” Kharlan said.

In response to her disqualification, the International Olympic Committee called for Ukrainian athletes to be treated “sensitively”.

Then on Friday, IOC President Thomas Bach, a former Olympic fencer himself, sent Kharlan a letter saying she would be guaranteed a place at next year’s Olympics in Paris regardless of whether she gained the qualification points.

  • Addfwyn@lemmy.ml
    111·
    11 months ago

    Their point is the double standard. Either apply it consistently or not at all. If athletes are representing their country in all aspects when competing internationally, all athletes should be held to that standard.

    If an athlete refused to shake a USian athletes hand because of the war crimes of their country, including ones ongoing at this very moment, you would be on board with it then? There would be precious few handshakes that could be given out on international sporting stages, that is for sure.

    • Kata1yst@kbin.social
      210·
      11 months ago

      No one asked me. No double standard here my friend. I call a military industrial complex what it is AND manage to see the Russian genocide of Ukraine for what IT is.

      If you’ve got problems with your opponent tapping a sabre instead of a handshake for the opponent’s press to run through the disinformation mill is more then sufficient.

      • LarkinDePark
        44·
        11 months ago

        Please don’t call things you don’t like “genocide”. It’s immature and shows you up to be an unserious drama queen.

          • LarkinDePark
            23·
            11 months ago

            Pure propaganda. Don’t be so gullible. If this was genocide half the US military and political elites would be rotting. They don’t even recognise the court and have threatened to invade the NL if they’re ever charged.

            • Kata1yst@kbin.social
              12·
              11 months ago

              And from my perspective, you have no interest in arguing in good faith, or engaging in critical thinking on this topic.

              It’s unfortunate, but neither of us is benefiting from further conversation here.

              I wish you well.

              • LarkinDePark
                13·
                11 months ago

                You’re hysterically calling things “genocide” and I’m not arguing in good faith? Grow up.