Ukrainian female fencing player’s disqualification for refusing to shake hands with Russian opponent sparks outcry
(Agence France-Presse, Milan, 27th) Today’s fencing world championship, Ukrainian female player Harlan refused to shake hands with Russia’s Smirnova after defeating her, and was disqualified because of this. “.
Olha Kharlan is the first athlete to officially represent Ukraine against a Russian or Belarusian opponent since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. She decided not to shake hands with Anna Smirnova after the match.
After the World Championships match in Milan, Harlan refused to shake hands, offering only a sword-to-sword goodbye, but Smirnova refused.
Mykhaylo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, wrote on social media: “The decision (to disqualify) is a complete lack of empathy, a misunderstanding of the emotional factors behind it, and it is extremely shameful.”
Harlan’s victory over Smirnova was cheered by about 20 members of the Ukrainian delegation, who chanted “Glory to Ukraine” in unison.
Smirnova refused to shake hands and was angry at her frustration, so she refused to leave the field and sat on a chair for an hour in protest.
The rules of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) state: “After the result of the competition, the two fencers must shake hands.”
“My message today is that the Ukrainian athletes are ready to face the Russians on the field, but we will never shake their hands,” the four-time world champion Harlan told several reporters.
Harlan claimed that the Greek president of the International Fencing Federation, Emmanuel Katsiadakis, had also assured her that it was “feasible” not to shake hands after bouts, and that a sword-to-sword gesture could be used instead.
“I thought I had his promise so I was safe, but obviously I didn’t,” Harlan said of Kaziadakis, who will take over from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Alisher Usmanov, President of the International Fencing Federation.
The Ukrainian Fencing Federation has asked for Harlan’s eligibility to be reinstated.
“We have lodged a protest with the office of the International Fencing Federation,” Mykhaylo Ilyashev, president of the Ukrainian Fencing Federation, told reporters.
2023-07-28 07:20:05
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