Kharlan: Russia terrorizing not only Ukraine but also sports

Ukrainian fencer Olha Kharlan said this in a video posted on Instagram, Ukrinform reports.

"I did not want to shake hands with this athlete, and I acted with my heart," Kharlan said.

She said that the country that "is terrorizing our state, our people, our families, is also terrorizing sports."

Kharlan said that when she heard she had been disqualified, "it killed me so much that I was screaming in pain." But when Kharlan received support from Ukrainians, including Ukrainian defenders, she "began to revive."

"One can never force anyone into peace, especially Ukrainians," the fencer said, adding that rules have to change because the world is changing.

Ukrainian fencer Olha Kharlan defeated Russian Anna Smirnova 15-7 at the World Championships in Milan, Italy. After the match, the Ukrainian refused to shake hands with her Russian opponent, who in turn lodged a protest due to the lack of "respect" from the Ukrainian. The International Fencing Federation (FIE) decided to disqualify Kharlan from the World Championships.

Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov is the FIE president.