A Ukrainian fencer has been assured by the Olympic authorities she will compete at subsequent 12 months's Paris video games after she was disqualified from a key rating occasion for refusing to shake arms with a Russian she had crushed.

Olga Kharlan was informed by the worldwide organising physique it will make a "unique exception" by allocating her a spot within the competitors.

The transfer follows controversy over the 32-year-old's elimination on the world championships in Milan

Read extra: Ukraine war latest as Russian missile strikes apartments

The incident between a four-time Olympic medallist and her Russian opponent - Anna Smirnova, who was competing as an authorized impartial athlete - additionally solid doubt on hopes for athletes from the 2 international locations to compete towards one another towards the backdrop of the Ukraine battle triggered by Moscow's invasion.

Kharlan comfortably beat Smirnova 15-7 in a first-round contest then refused a handshake, and as a substitute pointed her sabre towards the Russian.

Touching blades was used as an alternative choice to handshakes at fencing competitions in the course of the coronavirus pandemic however Smirnova stood going through Kharlan and didn't increase her sabre.

Kharlan then turned and left the realm and the Russian refused to go away for greater than 50 minutes, sitting on a chair in an obvious protest over the snub.

Kharlan was later disqualified by the International Fencing Federation (FIE), which denied her the prospect to earn extra rating factors that feed into Olympic qualification.

In response, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated sports activities our bodies ought to present "sensitivity" on points involving Ukrainians and impartial athletes from Russia - an obvious suggestion that the federation made an error.

Read extra:Airstrike on Dnipro apartment block - as two Russian cities rocked by blastsAnalysis: Putin is becoming the problem that Russia needs to solve

In a letter to Kharlan, IOC president Thomas Bach acknowledged the "roller coaster of emotions and feelings" she will need to have.

Bach, who like Kharlan is a former Olympic champion in a fencing group occasion, added: "It is admirable how you are managing this incredibly difficult situation."

The FIE subsequently softened its stance, saying it will enable Kharlan to compete for Ukraine within the upcoming group sabre occasion, however nonetheless defended the choice to punish her.

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

Kharlan had confronted a suspension from the remainder of the world championships and from different occasions.

However, the FIE assertion made no point out of permitting Ukrainians to keep away from handshakes with Russian opponents in future, which might imply extra disputes forward of the Olympics.

Insisting it was proper to punish Kharlan, it stated: "The FIE stands fully behind the penalty, which, after a thorough review, is in complete accordance and compliance with its official rules and associated penalties."