Ukraine demands stripping Russian competitor of her neutral status after fencing scandal

The Fencing Federation of Ukraine made a statement with the demand to deprive the Russian fencer Anna Smirnova of her neutrality status. Source: statement of the National Fencing Federation of Ukraine Quote: "The Fencing Federation of Ukraine appealed to the International Fencing Federation (FIE) with a demand to exclude Russian sabre Anna Smirnova from the list of neutral athletes due to her non-compliance with this status and to immediately remove her from participation in competitions under the auspices of the FIE.

Anna Smirnova's activity on Instagram, where she openly demonstrates verbal and non-verbal support for the Russian army, which is the symbol and implementer of aggression against Ukraine, shows that she is by no means a neutral athlete and has never been one."

Details: In the appeal, the National Fencing Federation of Ukraine notes that this is not the first time when the list of neutral athletes includes persons who "act contrary to the peacekeeping mission of the Olympic movement, demonstrating open and active support for the criminal genocide of Russian army soldiers on Ukrainian soil." In this regard, the federation insists that "the FIE Executive Committee review the process of granting neutral status and make it more efficient and transparent for all FIE members". Background:

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• On 27 July, Ukrainian sabre fencer Olha Kharlan was disqualified from the World Fencing Championship in Milan for not "showing respect" to her Russian opponent after winning the duel.

  Kharlan defeated Russian Anna Smirnova at the start of the tournament and refused to shake her hand after the match.

• The disqualification will last 60 days.
• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) expressed its solidarity with Ukrainian athletes and called on international federations to be sensitive to competitions between Ukrainian and Russian neutral athletes.
• Kharlan, who was disqualified at the Fencing World Championship in Italy for her refusal to shake hands with her Russian opponent, has been automatically allowed to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

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