The Worldwide Olympic Committee has “picked a facet” within the Russia-Ukraine battle, says the president of Russia’s Olympic Committee.
The IOC responded by encouraging sports activities federations to deal with Ukrainian athletes with sensitivity.
However Stanislav Pozdnyakov feels the IOC recommendation “clearly confirmed duplicity”.
“The assertion in query signifies that the IOC decided for itself and picked a facet within the political battle, [and] started to behave within the pursuits of this facet,” he stated on Telegram.
The previous Olympic fencing champion added that the remarks “clearly confirmed the duplicity of the so-called suggestions, standards and parameters”.
“Now we’ve got been involuntarily however clearly proven the perspective which completely any Russian will face at worldwide competitions.
“Olympism is formally being made a instrument managed from the surface within the pursuits of a geopolitical order to neutralise our residents and organisation in sports activities.”
After Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the IOC imposed sporting sanctions on Russia and its ally Belarus however earlier this yr really helpful that Russian and Belarusian athletes might compete as people underneath a impartial flag and with no anthem.
Kharlan grew to become the primary fencer to face a Russian or Belarusian because the invasion and, after beating Smirnova 15-7 in Milan, supplied her sabre to faucet blades as a substitute of shaking fingers.
Smirnova then staged a 45-minute sit-down protest, leading to Kharlan, a four-time particular person world champion and four-time Olympic medallist, being proven a black card.
That dominated her out of the crew competitors in addition to the ladies’s sabre particular person occasion.
The Ukraine sports activities ministry has reversed its determination to not permit Ukrainian athletes to compete in qualifying occasions for the 2024 Olympics if Russians are collaborating.
“We’re glad that they are going to be given this chance, and on the identical time we’re conscious of the troublesome internal conflicts they could have, given the aggression in opposition to their nation,” the IOC stated in an announcement it reiterated after Pozdnyakov’s feedback.
“Subsequently, we encourage worldwide federations to deal with conditions involving Ukrainian and particular person impartial athletes with the mandatory diploma of sensitivity.
“We proceed to face in full solidarity with the Ukrainian athletes and the Olympic group of Ukraine.”
Kharlan, 32, adopted the instance of Ukrainian tennis gamers akin to Elina Svitolina by not shaking fingers with Russian or Belarusian opponents, however Worldwide Fencing Federation (FIE) guidelines state that fencers should shake fingers.
She claimed that FIE president Emmanuel Katsiadakis had assured her that it was “attainable” to not shake fingers and supply a contact of her blade as a substitute.
“I assumed I had his phrase, to be secure, however apparently, no,” Kharlan added.