At the World Fencing Championships in Milan, Ukrainian Olympian Olga Kharlan was disqualified after defeating Russian competitor Anna Smirnova. Kharlan, a four-time Olympic medalist and four-time world champion, declined to shake Smirnova's hand following her 15-7 victory. Instead, she offered her blade, a gesture that had been accepted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Smirnova, competing as a neutral athlete, extended her hand, but Kharlan declined, leading to a brief standoff before Kharlan exited to celebrate her win. The International Fencing Federation (FIE) mandates a handshake between competitors, and refusal can result in a black card, leading to disqualification. While the FIE has not issued a formal statement, the Ukrainian Fencing Federation expressed outrage and plans to appeal the decision, aiming to allow Kharlan to participate in the team event scheduled for Saturday.
Kharlan defended her actions, explaining that offering her blade was intended as a respectful gesture while acknowledging the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. She emphasized that she was the first Ukrainian athlete to compete against a Russian in this manner since the war began and felt she had shown respect while winning fairly.
This incident occurred just hours after the Ukrainian government revised its policy, permitting its athletes to compete against Russians participating as neutral athletes. This change represents a significant shift in Ukraine's stance on sporting interactions with Russia, particularly in light of the upcoming Paris Olympics.
