Russian fencing broke through at the European Championship, but Ukraine’s complaint changed the list of participants

International fencing continues to be a pioneer in demonstration actions in relation to Russian athletes. Before everyone knew that six Russian athletes would still take part in the individual competitions of the European Championship, as there were already left, the number of our participants has changed: now there is one less, the complaint of Ukraine has worked. The tournament will start in Bulgaria on June 16th.

When the first lists of Russian athletes appeared, whom the FIE allowed to participate in international competitions in a neutral status, the Russian federation spoke of betrayal. The betrayal of those who will not be allowed. And that the division of athletes can ruin the team, which sooner or later will return to international competitions.

And after all, the FIE literally mowed down the elite athletes. She did not allow Olympic champions Sofia Velikaya, Sofia Pozdnyakova and Yana Yegoryan, Inna Deriglazova, Timur Safin, the Borodachev brothers to participate in tournaments, without explaining the reasons …

How was it to react? The first reaction is that no one will go. And she is right for obvious reasons. The second reaction – everyone decides for himself. And it is also fair, and also – for obvious reasons. So the FFR today does not prohibit those athletes who have received admission in a neutral status from participating in tournaments. “If they have such a desire, we do not restrict anyone.” Yes, and athletes in the current conditions communicate directly with the FIE, the national federation does not participate in this process in any way.

At the European Championships in Bulgaria, which will begin on June 16, 6 sets of awards for men and women will be played: in foil, saber and sword. Points awarded to athletes based on the results of the competition will go towards the Olympic qualification. And those who have been given the same neutral status by the International Fencing Federation will go to earn them. Who was considered to meet all the criteria. This is the world and European champion among juniors Yana Bekmurzova, two-time world champion among juniors Polina Khaertdinova, world champion among juniors Artem Sargsyan (all representatives of the sword), champions and prize-winners of Russian starts Alena Lisina and Anna Smirnova (both saber).

She was supposed to go, but the world and European champion among juniors, saber fencer Valeria Kobzeva, was deleted from the lists. The Ministry of Sports of Ukraine accused the athlete of violating the rules allowing Russians in a neutral status to participate in international competitions. How did you violate? She approved, that is, she “liked” posts on the CSKA page dedicated to the NWO.

The IOC, among other recommendations, marked with a red tick athletes associated with the armed forces or national security agencies. Sports live like this in many countries, but who cares? And International Fencing has put a tick on the whole ranks of our athletes, following just this recommendation. CSKA and Dynamo (both organizations with many bright sports victories on their account, celebrate their 100th anniversary this year) are under the special control of commissions of varying degrees of corrosiveness, giving the right to our athletes to receive a neutral status. And the official websites of CSKA and Dynamo are also under control. And not only commissions, but also athletes and officials from different countries who do not want to see Russians at the starts. So it happened with Kobzeva.

Immediately after the announcement of the recommendations of the IOC, it was obvious that this clause – about belonging to well-known clubs – would be widely exploited by international federations that were not looking for a real solution to the issue, but simply walking in the crowd. For example, the International Cycling Union (UCI) did not allow the Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist in the Maria Novolodskaya cycle track to be admitted to the competition. Moreover, the athlete did not even apply for a neutral status, the refusal was ahead of the curve due to belonging to CSKA.

However, those who want to use the current situation even more against Russia do not even need the recommendations of the IOC. You can, for example, as Spain has just done, simply refuse to issue visas. Many words were said about Poland, which did not allow our athletes to participate in the European Games for the same reason (and the fencing tournament was even punished by the FIE, it took away the status of the European Championship and the right to receive qualifying points for the Olympic Games). And now Spain has not even allowed non-adult athletes: we are talking about wrestlers under 20 years old. The European Youth Championship will start in ten days in Santiago de Compostela. Moreover, everyone was refused: athletes, coaches and specialists. Wholesale.

Alexander Karelin has already managed to compare the creation of such problems with the previously existing primitive way of dirty competition. Previously, they say, they covered a person with a mop in the toilet so that he would not come out. And now consular instruments are working on it.

According to the great fighter, in spite of everything, it is necessary to break through the blockade. “The judoists broke through, went to the World Championships and showed that we can participate and compete. Now we need everyone else to go through it.” If we start from the words of the wise San Sanych, then the five fencers in Bulgaria will try to do this at the European Championship.