Ukrainian Charlan disqualified – Muricas News

The Ukrainian fencing Olympic champion Olha Charlan was disqualified on the World Championships in Milan after refusing to shake palms with the Russian Anna Smirnova. That is reported by the AFP information company, citing a supply near the affiliation. Gold candidate Charlan clearly defeated Smirnova 15:7, however was not allowed to play in opposition to Bulgarian Joana Ilijewa within the second spherical. The conflict between Charlan and Smirnova was the primary non-tennis sporting competitors between Ukraine and Russia for the reason that starting of the struggle. After the struggle, the Russian walked as much as Charlan and held out her left hand. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian solely shook her head briefly and held out her saber, apparently to cross swords to say goodbye. Based on the principles, nevertheless, “the 2 fencers (…) should shake the opponent’s hand as quickly as the choice has been made”. Smirnova refused to depart the piste for 45 minutes and sat there on a chair.

On the World Championships, fencers from Russia and Belarus are allowed to start out as impartial athletes within the particular person competitions. In response to the struggle, the Ukrainian authorities initially forbade its athletes to compete in opposition to Russians or Belarusians. Nevertheless, this requirement was modified on Wednesday, and now solely fights in opposition to athletes “representing the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus” are prohibited. Charlan had lately declared that he wish to fence in opposition to Russian ladies. “It’s vital for our nation that we don’t simply sit on the sofa,” the 32-year-old advised the AFP information company earlier than the World Cup. The troopers on the entrance traces watched their battles, Charlan defined. She named tennis as a task mannequin. Like her colleagues there, she would refuse to shake palms with a Russian girl after a struggle. “Your nation is bombing and killing our compatriots,” she stated.