IOC invites Ukrainian fencer to 2024 Olympics after being disqualified from worlds over handshake controversy

A day after four-time Olympic medalist Olga Kharlan was disqualified from the 2023 Fencing World Championships for refusing to shake palms along with her Russian opponent, the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) has now assured her place within the 2024 Olympic Video games. 

IOC president Thomas Bach mentioned in a letter addressed to the embellished Ukrainian athlete that the committee will make the “distinctive exception” after her disqualification hindered her likelihood to earn extra rating factors that feed into Olympic qualification. 

Ukraine’s Olga Kharlan, left, refuses to shake palms with Russia’s Anna Smirnova after Kharlan defeated Smirnova throughout the Sabre Ladies’s Senior Particular person qualifiers as a part of the FIE Fencing World Championships in Milan on Thursday. (ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

“Given your distinctive scenario, the Worldwide Olympic Committee will allocate a further quota place to you for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in case you will be unable to qualify within the remaining interval,” the letter learn. 

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST DISQUALIFIED FROM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AFTER REFUSING HANDSHAKE WITH RUSSIAN OPPONENT

“We make this distinctive exception additionally as a result of the continuing procedures will in no case make up for the qualification factors you missed due to your disqualification.”

Kharlan defeated Russian Anna Smirnova, who was competing as a impartial athlete, 15-7, within the ladies’s particular person sabre on Thursday. 

Kharlan, 32, didn’t shake Smirnova’s hand as is remitted by the Worldwide Fencing Federation (FIE), however as an alternative provided her blade, a gesture which changed the handshake rule throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Smirnova, 23, provided her hand, and after a short standoff, Kharlan walked off to have fun her victory. 

Russia’s Anna Smirnova stays seated after her bout with Ukraine’s Olga Kharlan within the ladies’s particular person sabre better of 64 spherical match on the World Fencing Championship in Milan on Thursday. (Tibor Illye/MTI by way of AP)

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Beneath the FIE’s most up to date guidelines, rivals should “carry out a fencer’s salute and shake palms” and refusal to take action “earlier than the start of the bout or after the final hit” leads to a black card. 

After the Ukrainian Fencing Federation appealed the choice, FIE modified course on Friday by saying it will enable Kharlan to compete for Ukraine within the upcoming group sabre occasion, however nonetheless defended the choice to subject her a black card. 

“The FIE stands totally behind the penalty, which, after an intensive overview, is in full accordance and compliance with its official guidelines and related penalties,” the assertion learn. 

​​FIE interim president Emmanuel Katsiadakis added that the ruling “sends a message of sensitivity and understanding to our members and all sports activities federations, because the world faces great challenges.”

In an announcement offered by FIE, Kharlan mentioned she was “grateful” for the reversal and added that an important factor for any athlete “is to have the ability to compete, for my household, my group, my nation and all of the individuals who assist me.”

Ukraine’s Olha Kharlan, left, and Russia’s Anna Smirnova, registered as an Particular person Impartial Athlete, compete throughout the Sabre Ladies’s Senior Particular person qualifiers as a part of the FIE Fencing World Championships in Milan on Thursday. (ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

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In his letter, Bach empathized with Kharlan. 

“As a fellow fencer, it’s unattainable for me to think about how you are feeling at this second. The struggle in opposition to your nation, the struggling of the folks in Ukraine, the uncertainty round your participation on the Fencing World Championships in Milan, the tough interior conflicts you and lots of of your fellow Ukrainian athletes could have after which the occasions which unfolded yesterday — all it is a curler coaster of feelings and emotions,” he wrote.

“Relaxation assured that the IOC will proceed to face in full solidarity with the Ukrainian athletes and the Olympic neighborhood of Ukraine throughout these extraordinarily tough instances,” he added.

The Related Press contributed to this report.