Ukraine at the government level will seek a lifetime disqualification of saber fencer Anna Smirnova for an allegedly «provocative act.» In a duel against Ukrainian Olga Harlan at the World Championships, the Russian woman dared to lend a hand! This is no longer just madness, but real idiocy that cannot be cured.
Chronology of the scandal The incident at the world championship in Italy became the main topic of the tournament. Attention was drawn to Harlan's meeting with Smirnova. After the end of the duel, instead of shaking hands, the Ukrainian woman thrust a saber to the Russian woman, which grossly violated the rules. Anna waited for the decision of the judges for 50 minutes and even filed a protest against the result. However, the Ukrainian victory was upheld.
The International Fencing Federation (FIE) later rightly disqualified Harlan from the individual tournament. Then went whining from the Ukrainian side. Smirnova was then threatened with death on social networks.
Political pressure was so strong that the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, had to write a letter in which he offered Harlan a place in the Olympics through a new qualification as an exception to the rules. So brazenly and unceremoniously the official regulations have not yet been redrawn.
What is demanded in Ukraine It turns out that a Ukrainian woman will take someone's place in Paris and take away someone's dream. But even this was not enough. The Committee on Youth and Sports of the Verkhovna Rada adopted a draft appeal to the IOC and FIE with a call to disqualify Smirnova for life. The project was approved on Thursday. It proposes to adopt an appeal to the parliaments and governments of other states, the IOC and international sports federations to condemn the removal of Harlan.
“The appeal, in particular, notes that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine fully supports the act of the Olympic champion Olga Kharlan, strongly condemns the FIE decision to disqualify the Ukrainian athlete and calls on the federation: to completely cancel Harlan’s disqualification and officially apologize to her; to hold accountable all persons, involved in the decision to disqualify Harlan; to disqualify for life the Russian athlete Anna Smirnova for a provocative act contrary to the Olympic spirit,» the text says.
I wonder what provocative act the Russian woman is talking about? Smirnova honestly acted in a duel, and after the end she extended her hand to her opponent, which is fully consistent with the rules and etiquette of fencing competitions. In response, Anna received a saber almost to the body. Not only did the Ukrainian woman act absolutely boorishly, she could also cause injury.
However, the FIE requires an apology to Harlan. They want the organization to encourage lawlessness. The Ukrainians intend to punish all those involved in the decision to disqualify. And the demand for a life-long suspension of the Russian woman is idiocy and cretinism.
It is curious what the FIE and the IOC think about this situation. What matters more is what they can do. The very existence of adequate international sports will depend on their reaction.
The opinion of the author may not coincide with the position of the editors.