IOC issues automatic Olympics qualification for Ukrainian fencer after she was disqualified for not shaking hands with Russian opponent

Ukrainian fencer Olha Kharlan has received an automatic qualification for the upcoming 2024 Olympic in Paris from the IOC, Ukrainian Sports Minister Vadym Gutzeit published the letter.

“Despite all the hatred that I personally felt as well as my team did in the past 24 hours, working hard for Ukraine’s athletes and not reacting to it, we already have first results. We are still working to lift the “black card” on Olha’s future competitions and prevent these situations in other sports,” he wrote on Facebook.

The Executive Committee of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) has lifted Kharlan’s disqualification at the World Championships in Milan, La Repubblica reports.

Earlier, Kharlan won a bout against Russia’s Anna Smirnova 15:7 at the World Championships but refused to shake hands with her. Instead, she pointed her sabre towards the Russian, turned around, and left the piste.

According to the FIE rules, fencers should salute to each other and shake hands after a bout. If one or both athletes refuse to do so, the contest is not considered finished. Kharlan was ultimately disqualified.