IOC invites Ukrainian fencer to 2024 Olympics after being disqualified from worlds over handshake controversy

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A day after four-time Olympic medalist Olga Kharlan was disqualified from the 2023 Fencing World Championships for refusing to shake hands with her Russian opponent, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has now guaranteed her place in the 2024 Olympic Games. 

IOC president Thomas Bach said in a letter addressed to the decorated Ukrainian athlete that the committee will make the "unique exception" after her disqualification hindered her chance to earn more ranking points that feed into Olympic qualification. 

Ukraine's Olga Kharlan, left, refuses to shake hands with Russia's Anna Smirnova after Kharlan defeated Smirnova during the Sabre Women's Senior Individual qualifiers as part of the FIE Fencing World Championships in Milan on Thursday. (ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)

"Given your unique situation, the International Olympic Committee will allocate an additional quota place to you for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in case you will not be able to qualify in the remaining period," the letter read. 

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST DISQUALIFIED FROM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AFTER REFUSING HANDSHAKE WITH RUSSIAN OPPONENT

"We make this unique exception also because the ongoing procedures will in no case make up for the qualification points you missed because of your disqualification."

Kharlan defeated Russian Anna Smirnova, who was competing as a neutral athlete, 15-7, in the women’s individual sabre on Thursday. 

Kharlan, 32, did not shake Smirnova’s hand as is mandated by the International Fencing Federation (FIE), but instead offered her blade, a gesture which replaced the handshake rule during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Smirnova, 23,