"I realized that the Russian will provoke Kharlan": sports minister commented on the scandal at the world championships and the miss of the Russian Federation

Vadim Gutzeit, Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, said that he expected provocation of the Russian athlete in the fight with Olympic champion Olga Kharlan. He also told about the agreements with the International Fencing Federation and judges on the eve of the performance of the saber fencer from Mykolaiv, who was first disqualified for refusing to shake hands with Anna Smirnova, but then acquitted under pressure from Ukraine.

"I was already in control of this situation at the beginning of the competition, even before the day of Olia's start at the World Championships we were in touch with her. We knew unequivocally that we would not shake hands with the Russians. From my side I worked with the International Fencing Federation, I had a conversation with the acting FIE President. On the eve of the competition he called me and was also worried about this situation. I said that Olga would go on the track, but would not press her hand and welcome this athlete. He agreed with such a plan of action", - noted Gutzeit.

After that Vadim Gutzeit called Olga and told her to come to the technical directorate and also raise the issue of the handshake with them: "She was told that it was not obligatory. I was also in touch with the judges, who said that they had made a decision to be loyal to Olga and to the fact that athletes from a country that was attacked, constantly bombing and killing its inhabitants, would go on the track, but would not greet the representatives of the aggressor country. That is, the judges were not going to demand handshakes."

"And on the day of the competition, even before the match, I understood that the Russian would provoke Olga and do everything not to leave the track, and wait for our athlete to shake her hand. But Olga did what she did, and the judge declared her the winner. Olga had already gone to prepare for the next fight when the head coach of the national team called me on the phone and told me that the technical directorate had started discussing the issue because the Russians had filed a protest," Gutzeit recalled.

"And then my personal work as the President of the NOC and a member of the Executive Committee of the International Fencing Federation already started. It lasted for some time, and in a day we already saw the result of how we worked together - the whole country. And a little bit of my work," added Vadim Gutzeit.

In fact, the Kharlan scandal, which occurred at the World Championships in Milan due to the actions of the Russian team and Smirnova's demarche, according to Vadim Gutzeit, has benefited us.

"This is an example for many other international federations. We don't need any help at competitions, we will go there and participate. But we need all federations to change their approach and attitude towards our national teams. To the fact that we will not shake hands with representatives of aggressor countries, we will not welcome them, despite the requirements in the rules of the competition," - said the head of Ukrainian sport.

"Therefore, already on July 31, I sent a letter to the president of the International Olympic Committee and asked him to also intervene. After the situation with Harlan, the head of the IOC came out with a statement that we should be kinder to teams from Ukraine, treat our athletes with respect in such a difficult time," Gutzeit added.

According to Vadim Gutzeit, in his appeal to the IOC he asked to write letters to all international federations, where the rules require shaking hands or greeting the opponent before or after the match: "And now I will also address to all international federations, where there are the same conditions. We will work on each sport and, if there is any occasion, we will also intervene".

On our clarification, as explained the disqualification of Kharlan, it was the preliminary arrangements, as well as the covid rules that did not provide for handshaking, Vadim Gutzeit noted that it is very difficult to answer what at that time were guided by the representatives of the FIE Technical Directorate.

"It is difficult for me to say why the German Dieter Lamer, who was the head of the Technical Directorate, made such a decision at that time. Unfortunately, it happened. And then, as far as I understand, they forced the referee to find Olga and give her a black card. But it's good when things end well, when we all worked hard, when the right things were done to get Olga back on the track and the sabre team came fourth. This is a good result at the World Championships," said the functionary.

"And it was a success in general that Olga came back, and the International Olympic Committee immediately reacted and granted her a license for the Olympic Games. And the world once again saw how Russia acts - how it provokes, how it specially prepares such things against Ukrainian athletes. But this time everything did not go according to their scenario," Gutzeit assured.

"But our women's epee representatives were sixth in the team at the World Championships. And there will still be world cups and many individual and team competitions. They have time to compete for licenses to the Olympic Games, too," Vadim Gutzeit assured.

As previously reported OBOZREVATEL, Harlan told what was most shocked at the World Cup.

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