Functionaries ignored the arguments of the Ukrainian side
Ukrainian fencer Olga Harlan commented on the decision International Fencing Federation (FIE) on the return of athletes from Russia and Belarus to the international arena.
“I can say that it was all thought out in advance. In my opinion, this decision was planned a long time ago, and they knew how to do it. The International Fencing Federation will do everything possible so that the representatives of Russia and Belarus go to the competitions. They will change venues if these fencers cannot go there.”
“If someone does not want to fence with them or arrange a boycott, then they have already announced the punishment under the code. I do not know what to do. I want to go to competitions and live my life fencing, but if so…I don’t understand what to do.”
“I performed and Vadim Markovich [Гутцайт] spoke, as well as the president of the Russian fencing federation. I will speak as it is. It was cynical. When I gave information that most of their athletes are army men and are under Putin, they answered me that in all countries athletes represent some kind of army. But the fact that their army is killing people, no one looks at it.
“Secondly, a statement was made in my direction from the president of the Russian federation, Ilgar Mammadov, that in November I was offered to come to Russia and make peace, I then said: “This is impossible for another 50 years. This is a minimum.” He recalled this in his speech and said that he offered our team to “make peace”, but we don’t want such people.”
At an extraordinary FIE congress, it was decided to remove the ban from Russian and Belarusian athletes. The decision comes into force in the second half of April 2023.
The Fencing Federation of Ukraine twice filed a request to block this decision, but their protest was not satisfied. In addition, the FIE allowed the official representatives of the Russian Federation and Belarus to return to the structures.
Recall that the IOC is ready to consider the possibility of admitting athletes from Russia and Belarus to international competitions. In this case, everyone who wishes will be required to act in a neutral status. Also, athletes should not support the war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and pass a mandatory doping test.
The IOC believes that a complete ban on the performance of Russian and Belarusian athletes is discrimination and is contrary to the Olympic Charter. The organizers of the 2024 Olympics in Paris said they would adhere to the decision of the IOC to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete under a neutral flag.
Source: Sportarena
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