Ukraine’s government has called on the International Fencing Federation (FIE) to reverse its decision to disqualify a Ukrainian fencer for refusing to shake hands with her defeated Russian opponent. The Russian fencer Anna Smirnova approached Olga Kharlan after losing to the Ukrainian to shake hands but Kharlan instead held up her sabre and walked away. Smirnova refused to move for about 50 minutes and sat on a chair on the fencing piste.
Ukraine calls for disqualified fencer to be reinstated after anti-Russia protest
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