The International Fencing Federation (FIE) also said it was reinstating Kharlan, allowing her to take part in the team competition at the world championships in Milan.
Emmanuel Katsiadakis, the Greek president of the FIE, said the decision had been taken “after consultation with the International Olympic Committee”.
Kharlan, the first fencer to face a Russian or Belarusian since the former’s invasion of Ukraine, won 15-7 against Russia’s Anna Smirnova on Thursday.
The 32-year-old four-time Olympic medallist refused Smirnova’s handshake afterwards, instead offering her sabre to tap blades, but FIE rules state that the two fencers must shake hands.
Smirnova staged a 45-minute protest and refused to leave the competition strip.
Kharlan was disqualified, claiming afterwards that Emmanuel Katsiadakis, the Greek president of the FIE, had even assured her that it was “possible” not to shake hands and offer a touch of her blade instead following her victory.
“I thought I had his word, to be safe, but apparently, no,” Kharlan said.
In response to her disqualification, the International Olympic Committee called for Ukrainian athletes to be treated “sensitively”.
Then on Friday, IOC President Thomas Bach, a former Olympic fencer himself, sent Kharlan a letter saying she would be guaranteed a place at next year’s Olympics in Paris regardless of whether she gained the qualification points.
Why should she be treated any differently than other athletes? She deliberately broke the rules, got a punishment, threw a fit overthe punishment, and now is getting a special place in the Olympics despite not qualifying for them? That seems kinda ridiculius IMO.
Being forced to shake hands with the representation of the people committing war crimes against your family and nation is an awful standard.
“Okay, we know he raped you, but it’s been 17 months. Just get over it and shake his hand.”
The athlete in question is not their government, cannot prevent their government from doing the war, and is not responsible for any of the crimes of her government. Changing the rules for one athlete because she doesn’t like her opponent is ridiculous. This rule has been on the book for decades. People from countries in much more bitter wars have shaken hands.
And also the other fencer literally did not rape her, this situation isn’t even remotely comparable to what you just said. That’s an utterly ridiculous comparison. You’re making it out as though this one athlete is personally responsible for everything Russia has done in the last 2 years and should be treated as such.
