The International Fencing Federation (FIE) has published an official explanation of its punishment for Ukrainian sabre fencer Olga Kharlan. The 32-year-old Olympic champion was not disqualified but suspended.

As a result, Olga was allowed to participate in the upcoming women's team sabre competition at the 2023 World Fencing Championships, which are currently taking place in Milan. At the same time, the FIE fully supports the punishment.

"The disqualification, after careful consideration, is in full compliance with the official rules and is in line with the regulations," the text on the organisation's official website reads.

FIE interim president Emmanuel Katsiadakis said he had met with Kharlan to discuss the matter thoroughly.

According to Katsiadakis, the decision to suspend Kharlan's disqualification and allow her to participate in the 2023 World Cup team tournament "was made in accordance with the Olympic spirit".

"It also sends a message of sensitivity and understanding to our members and all sports federations as the world faces enormous challenges," the official concluded.

In response, Kharlan thanked the FIE.

"The most important thing for an athlete is to be able to compete for their family, their team, their country and all the people who support me. In these difficult few days, I appreciate all the support I have received from all over the world," Olga said.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, Kharlan defeated Russian Anna Smirnova in the round of 32 of the 2023 World Championships in Milan. After the fight, our compatriot refused to shake hands with her opponent, who staged a real circus, refusing to leave the track.

The Russian representative filed a protest against the outcome of the duel, which was rejected. The propaganda TV channel Match TV published a photo of the denunciation that Anna Smirnova wrote against Olga. As a result, the FIE disqualified Kharlan from the 2023 World Cup.

Our sabre fencer herself said that the decision to exclude her from the tournament simply killed her.

It should be noted that Smirnova is not a "neutral" athlete, as required by the competition regulations. The representative of the aggressor country's brother is a military officer, and she is very proud of him, as can be seen from their joint photos.

People's deputy and Olympic wrestling champion Zhan Beleniuk said that initially there was an agreement between Kharlan and the FIE that provided for a refusal to shake hands with Russian Anna Smirnova.

Following the loud publicity in the world media, the IOC also responded to the scandal by making a sensational decision regarding the Ukrainian.

Later, the head coach of the Ukrainian national fencing team, Natalia Konrad, told us what really happened to Kharlan.

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