Ukraine's Top Fencer Disqualified for Not Shaking Hands with Russian Opponent

Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan was disqualified after she refused to shake hands with her Russian opponent following a win at the World Championships.

Transcript

00:00 Ukraine's top fencer has been disqualified from the World Championships after she refused

00:04 to shake hands with her Russian opponent.

00:06 Olga Karlan, a world champion and four-time Olympic medalist, defeated Anna Smirnova,

00:12 but offered her saber to tap blades in lieu of the mandatory handshake.

00:16 Smirnova, who is from Russia but was competing as an individual neutral athlete, then walked

00:21 away and staged a sit-down protest for about 45 minutes.

00:25 Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government has called on the International Fencing Federation to

00:30 reverse its decision and reinstate Karlan, who they say won the fair competition, and

00:35 show dignity.

00:36 What do you think?