A female fencer can also compete in a team competition.
The International Fencing Federation canceled the disqualification of Oľha Charlanova, who refused to shake hands with her Russian opponent after winning the match at the World Championships in Milan. The fencer, who gained media attention with her gesture, will be able to present herself in the team competition.
This decision according to sport.sk it followed International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach guaranteeing her a place at the Paris Olympics.
“Due to your unique situation, the International Olympic Committee will allocate you an additional place for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the event that you are unable to qualify in the remaining period,” wrote Bach to Charlan.
The gesture of refusing to shake the hand of Anna Smirnova, competing under a neutral flag, was announced by Charlanova a day in advance. “We Ukrainian athletes are ready to face the Russians on the sports field, but we will never shake hands with them,” she said. She also referred to assurances from the president of the International Fencing Federation, Emmanuel Katsiadakis, who said that a handshake was not necessary.
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Only last week, the Ukrainian Ministry of Sports allowed the Ukrainians to compete with the Russians and Belarusians, but only if they compete under a neutral flag. The four-time world saber champion became the first Ukrainian representative in fencing to compete against a Russian or Belarusian athlete since last year’s invasion of Ukraine.
Source: TASR/AP
2023-07-29 23:32:39
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