Saber Harlan: Russians in a neutral status celebrate victories with a flag
Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan explained her reluctance to compete with Russian athletes competing in a neutral status. Her words are quoted by AS.
The saber worker said that Russians continue to be financed by the state. “There have also been cases where athletes participated as neutral athletes and then returned to celebrate with their countries’ T-shirts and flags,” she said. At the same time, the athlete emphasized that athletes who left Russia have the right to participate in international tournaments.
Last July, Kharlan met Russian Anna Smirnova in the 1/32 finals of the World Championship. The winning Ukrainian refused to shake hands with her opponent, but the Russian woman decided to wait for the gesture, without which, according to the regulations, the fight could not be considered completed. As a result, Smirnova left the site without waiting for the return of Harlan, who was later disqualified.
On July 28, the International Olympic Committee granted Harlan an automatic right to compete at the 2024 Games. Later, the International Fencing Federation announced the lifting of the Ukrainian’s suspension, giving her the opportunity to take part in the team tournament. In addition, the organization abolished mandatory handshakes after fights.
Source: Lenta
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