IOC invites Ukraine fencer Olga Kharlan to Olympics after disqualification
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Ukraine's Olga Kharlan celebrates defeating Russia's Anna Smirnova (not pictured) at the World Championships in Milan.
PHOTO: AFP
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GENEVA – Ukraine’s Olga Kharlan was invited to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday, after the fencer was disqualified for refusing to shake hands with a Russian opponent
A letter sent to Kharlan signed by IOC president Thomas Bach said she would be granted an additional quota place at the Olympics if she was unable to qualify in the remaining period.
“Rest assured, the IOC will continue to stand in full solidarity with the Ukrainian athletes and the Olympic community of Ukraine during these extremely difficult times,” it added.
Kharlan, a four-time Olympic medallist and world champion, won her individual sabre bout
In fencing’s rules, shaking an opponent’s hand is mandatory and failure to do so results in a “black card”.
Ukraine’s Youth and Sports Minister Vadym Huttsait approved of the IOC decision in a post on Facebook.
“Despite all the hate that my team and I have endured over the past 24 hours, after working persistently for the benefit of Ukrainian athletes... we now have our first result,” he said.
The Ukrainian Fencing Federation (NFFU) also backed Kharlan.
Ukrainian athletes in other sports – including tennis players Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk – have also refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents
Kharlan represented Ukraine in the fencing tournament after the country’s sports ministry relaxed its rules over national sports teams competing in Olympic, non-Olympic and Paralympic events with competitors from Russia and Belarus.
The NFFU had appealed against her disqualification and the International Fencing Federation (FIE) decided later on Friday to allow the fencer to compete in the women’s team sabre team competition at the World Championships.
The FIE stressed that it was still fully behind its original penalty, which was “in accordance and compliance with our official rules”, but it would now allow Kharlan to take part in the team competition.
Kharlan said she appreciated the change of heart.
“The most important thing for an athlete is to be able to compete, for my family, my team, my country and all the people who support me,” she said.
She also said that she stood by her decision not to shake hands with Smirnova.
“Because you have to understand we still have war, and during this war we just can’t... do handshakes,” she added.
“I’m sorry but there is something bigger than Olympic Games or fencing.” REUTERS
