Ukraine’s most successful Olympics, Olga Kharlan, has warned that if the governing body of the game continues on its current path, the Olympic future of fencing can be endangered.
The International Fencing Federation (FIE) announced that it was a warning of Kharlan after it is relaxed in its neutrality rules, which would allow Russian military athletes to compete in their events.
His inclusion led to Ukraine and beyond shockwaves, when Kharlan said that she was “angry and disappointed”.
“This is one of the army’s promotional appliances,” Kharlan told DW in an interview. “In fact the army he represents, attacks Ukraine and kills people. And they kill Ukrainian athletes.”
FIE’s decision means that three Russian army officers, including Kharlan’s prolonged Olympic rival Sofya Velikaya, will be able to participate in the world fencing championship in the Georgian capital Tabilisi next week.
Despite the decision, Kharlan said that he and his countrymen do not hesitate to fight the Russian opponents.
“To see them in competitions, it is in justice for us,” he said. “But right now, it is a different level of injustice for us. And a point is that we will never shake hands with them and we will never talk to them.”
Russian effect in fencing is ‘getting high’
Kharlan fears that his game has become corrupt with Russian money. Last November, Russian billionaire Alishar Osmanov was re -elected as the chairman of the FIE for the fifth term, although he stood down a few days later due to international sanctions against him.
“I can see that the Russian effect in FIE is getting more,” he said.
The concern is that the FIE can go like the International Boxing Association, which lost its Olympic recognition due to the issues of governance. It kept boxing in 2028 at risk of excluding exclusion from the game of Los Angeles.
“With all the presses about all scams and fences, we are close to that moment that we are an Olympic game, because this is not good to promote the Olympic movement,” Kharlan said.
“If they cause problems then why should the fencing be in the Olympics?”
The FIE, in a statement issued on July 11, defended its position, saying that the decision reflected its “commitment to peace”, and that athletes should not tolerate the consequences of geopolitical events beyond “their control.”
Open letter call on FIE for reverse course
Kharlan is one of more than 440 fresses from 40 countries who have signed an open letter on the FIE to reverse the IT decision and resumed “fully review and check” on Russian and Belarusi athletes applying for neutral status.
This allows them to compete without their national flag, anthem or other symbols.
In a letter organized by the athlete movement global athlete, the fans expressed their “deep anxiety and disagreement” with the FIE decision to quit their independent veating process.
The letter stated, “This approach to ensure that fencing slopes are not used in ways that can reduce the integrity and neutrality of our game, fail to ensure whether changes were motivated by ignorant reasons with principles of neutrality and fairness. ,
Separately, the European fencing Confederation (EFC) has written to FIE, which shows the lack of input in the world that controls the world’s decision-making process.
EFC wrote, “It should be understood that the only area affected by Russia’s actions is European one.” “Nevertheless, once consultation has not been consulted to consult Europe.
“Inadvertently, for such dialogue, our calls, in the past, have been unheard or ignored.”
Kharlan Paese Ukraine is being forgotten
At last year’s Paris Olympics, 34 -year -old Kharlan adopted a spirit of Ukraine, claiming a bronze in his personal event claiming a medal that he dedicated to the Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia to the Ukrainian athletes who were leading to make their country gold at the team event.
The six -time Olympic medalist said, “In Paris, it was a moment that showed what all Ukrainians are doing, even though it is real difficult, even if you do not have confidence in a few moments.”
“Butt and trust works.”
One year from those games, Kharlan says that he is worried that Ukraine’s struggles are being forgotten by people in the world game.
“Unknowingly, most people don’t want to understand, or they are simply tired of it, or they just sympathize with Russia,” he said. “Most of the people are tied, so they can play on this situation right now.
“It is easy to do now because they say that this struggle is very long. But nothing has changed from the first year when they [Russian fencers] Was suspended. This is worse. More death, more destruction and everything else. ,
Edited by: Chak Penfol
