The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has called for “sensitivity” towards Ukrainian athletes, following the disqualification on Thursday of a Ukrainian saber fencer who refused to shake hands with her Russian opponent after having beaten.
In a press release, the IOC also welcomed the change in the position of the Ukrainian government, which now prohibits its nationals from facing opponents “representing the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus”, which opens the door to fights or matches against athletes from these countries participating under a neutral banner. This decision by kyiv “will allow (the Ukrainians) to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024”, welcomed the IOC.