The Ukrainian Fencing Federation has appealed the decision. In fencing's rules, shaking an opponent's hand is mandatory and failure to do so results in a 'black card'.
She won the bout, but then refused to shake hands with Ms Smirnova, who was competing as a neutral. Ukraine's Olga Kharlan, a four-time Olympic medallist and world champion, was facing Russia's Anna Smirnova at the World Fencing Championships in Milan yesterday. Want to play 2 Player Tank Battle You can play unblocked 2 Player Tank Battle game online for free on mobile, iPad, PC, ChromeOS browser on DooDooLove without. "We continue to stand in full solidarity with the Ukrainian athletes and the Olympic community of Ukraine," it said. The committee added it encourages sports organisers "to handle situations involving Ukrainian and Individual Neutral Athletes with the necessary degree of sensitivity".
The International Olympic Committee said: "We are aware of the difficult inner conflicts they may have, given the aggression against their country." It follows a row after a Ukrainian fencer was disqualified for refusing to shake her Russian opponent's hand yesterday. Organisers of the Olympic Games have called for "sensitivity" over how sports bosses handle events involving Ukrainian, Russian and Belarusian athletes.