Ukraine has warned World Fencing Championships organisers in advance that athletes will not shake hands with athletes from Russia — Minister Hutzait

Ukraine's Minister of Youth and Sports, Vadym Hutzait, said that Ukraine had warned the organisers of the World Fencing Championships in advance that athletes would not shake hands with "neutral" athletes from Russia.

Hutzait said this during a press conference.

According to him, on July 26, representatives of the Ukrainian and international federations had a conversation during which it was stressed that Ukrainian athletes would not shake hands with Russians.

"We saw a provocation by an athlete under a neutral flag. We saw that she was specifically provoking Olha Kharlan," the minister claimed.

Hutzait noted that the judges had awarded Kharlan the victory in the fight with the Russian; the decision to disqualify the Ukrainian was made by the World Cup organisers.