Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan defeated Russian opponent Anna Smirnova, 15-7, during the world championships Thursday, after which she rejected Smirnova’s handshake, prompting a protest from the Russian that lasted around 45 minutes.
“We fully support Olga Kharlan in this situation. We are preparing a protest,”Kharlan defeated Smirnova, 15-7, during the competition in Milan, after which she rejected Smirnova’s handshake, prompting a protest from the Russian that lasted around 45 minutes. Smirnova remained on the piste — the strip upon which fencers spar — at first standing, then sitting before speaking with several officials and leaving.
The FIE has not said why Kharlan was disqualified and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Some Ukrainian officials characterized the disqualification as unfair, with Ukrainian Sports Minister Vadym Huttsait claiming Smirnova provoked Kharlan by “holding her hand up for a long time and waiting.
Ukrainian athletes in other sports have refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents since the formerUkrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina has publicly and repeatedly said she will not shake hands with players from Russia or Belarus.
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