The so-called journalists of the propaganda TV channel Match TV have questioned the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow fencer Olga Kharlan to compete at the 2024 Games in Paris. Our compatriot received an additional quota to compete in France after being disqualified from the World Championships for refusing to shake hands with her Russian rival.

"Match TV sent an inquiry to the IOC press service, doubting the authenticity of the IOC president's letter to Kharlan, in which he announced the committee's decision to include her in the Olympic Games. "We confirm that the IOC president sent this letter to Olga Kharlan. This is true information," the organisation said in a response.

As a reminder, Olga Harnan refused to shake hands with Russia's Anna Smirnova after the World Cup round of 16 match. This angered the Ukrainian's rival, who staged a real circus - she brought a chair onto the track and refused to leave the platform.

The Russian representative lodged a protest against the outcome of the duel, which was rejected. The propaganda TV channel Match TV published a photo of the denunciation that Smirnova wrote against Olga. The sabre fencer herself said that she was simply killed by the decision to exclude her from the tournament.

After a public outcry, the International Federation cancelled our athlete's punishment at the championship and also amended the rules for the fights.

This decision caused a real hysteria in Russia. Olympic champion Yana Yegoryan literally spewed bile at Kharlan, and world athletics champion Yolanda Chen called Olga a criminal.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, the Ukrainian national fencing team led by Olga Kharlan entered the top 4 of the World Championships in Milan.

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