Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan has been disqualified for refusing to shake hands with Russian Anna Smirnova at the World Fencing Championships.
Kharlan, the first fencer to face a Russian or Belarusian since the former’s full-scale invasion of her homeland, won 15-7 in Milan.
The 32-year-old rejected Smirnova’s handshake afterwards, instead offering her sabre to tap blades.
It led to an appeal from Smirnova, who staged a 45-minute sit-down protest.
Svitolina has refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents and said Kharlan’s decision was “the right thing to do for our people”.
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