(Moscow) Russia on Friday accused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of acting “in the interest” of Ukraine, after the international body asked federations to show “sensitivity” towards Ukrainian athletes.
This IOC wish sounds like an implicit disavowal of the decision of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) to exclude saber Olga Kharlan from the Milan Worlds for refusing to shake hands with her Russian opponent Anna Smirnova after having upgraded Thursday.
For the head of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, the IOC “took sides in a political conflict, began to act in the interest of this party”.
In the sights of Russian leaders, the support given to Ukraine by the IOC, which has called on international federations to show “sensitivity” towards Ukrainian sports nationals.
The day of Thursday had however started with this sporting confrontation between nationals of these two countries, an unprecedented event since the attack of Russia in Ukraine in February 2022.
The Ukrainian authorities had indeed authorized Kharlan, quadruple world champion and bronze medalist in London and Rio (2012 and 2016), to face the Russian. The consequence of a change in their policy on the subject, ratified the day before in a decree.
From now on, Ukrainian athletes can participate in international competitions provided that Russians and Belarusians line up there under a neutral banner. For the IOC, this new line “will allow” Ukrainians “to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics”.
This provision is in line with the recommendation of the same IOC, taken in March and implemented by several international federations, including fencing (FIE), to reintegrate Russians and Belarusians into world sport, under several conditions including that of the neutral banner .
For the head of the Russian Olympic committee, the IOC’s call for “sensitivity” in favor of the Ukrainians illustrates “the duplicity of so-called international recommendations”.
Pozdnyakov again accused the Olympic body of having given in to Kyiv’s “Russophobic demands” in recent months. According to him, the reaction of the IOC showed “the attitude that absolutely any Russian will [from now on] face in international competitions”.
The disqualification of 32-year-old Olga Kharlan, as required by FIE rules for refusing to shake hands with her opponent, was deemed “scandalous” by the Ukrainian presidency on Thursday. His automatic suspension has been lifted, the International Fencing Federation (FIE) announced on Friday, allowing him to compete in the team event from Saturday.
And she will have a guaranteed place at the Paris Games, IOC President Thomas Bach announced in a letter sent by Ukrainian Sports Minister Vadym Gutzeit.
“In view of your particular situation, the International Olympic Committee will allocate you an additional quota for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the event that you are unable to qualify within the remaining period,” said a letter from IOC President Thomas. Bach in a letter released by Ukrainian Sports Minister Vadym Gutzeit.
Kyiv has not officially made a decision on whether or not to boycott the Games. “We are waiting for the final decision and whether [the Russians and Belarusians] will be allowed to participate or not,” Ukrainian Sports Minister and President of the National Olympic Committee Vadym Gutzeit told Le Monde on Tuesday.
The IOC did not include Russians and Belarusians in the ritual invitation to athletes from around the world to take part in the Games, Wednesday in Paris. Its president Thomas Bach did not give a timetable for his decision on this point.
