IOC invites Ukraine’s Kharlan to Olympics after disqualification
REUTERS – Ukraine’s Olga Kharlan was invited to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris next year by the IOC on Friday after the fencer was disqualified for refusing to shake hands with a Russian opponent during a tournament earlier this week.
A letter sent to Kharlan signed by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said she would be granted an additional quota place at the Olympics if she failed to qualify.
“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 15-7 and then refused to shake hands with Russian Anna Smirnova – competing as a neutral – at the World Championships in Milan on Thursday.
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 welcomed the IOC decision in a Facebook post.
“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 and not responding to this, we now have our first result,” he said.
Ukraine’s Fencing Federation (NFFU) appealed against Kharlan’s 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.
Kharlan said earlier that she stood by her decision not to shake hands with Smirnova.
“When I have a choice... where I shake hands I will never shake hands with her. I’m sorry but there is something bigger than Olympic Games or license or fencing and finally I understood that, there is something more. The support for the Ukrainian people it’s incredible,” Kharlan told Reuters.