Kharlan Disqualified For Refusing Smirnov’s Handshake
Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan has been disqualified for refusing to shake hands with Russian Anna Smirnova at the World Fencing Championships. Kharlan, the first fencer to face a Russian or Belarusian since the former's full-scale invasion of her homeland, won 15-7 in Milan. The 32-year-old rejected Smirnova's handshake afterwards, instead offering her sabre to tap blades. It led to an appeal from Smirnova, who staged a 45-minute sit-down protest. "My […]
