July 27 (Reuters) - Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan has been disqualified after refusing to shake hands with Russian Anna Smirnova at the World Championships in Milan on Thursday.
Kharlan, a four-time Olympic medallist and world champion, won the individual sabre bout 15-7 and then refused to shake hands with her opponent.
Smirnova remained on the piste for over half an hour after the incident, speaking with a number of officials before leaving.
In fencing's rules, shaking an opponent's hand is mandatory and failure to do so results in a 'black card'.
The women's team sabre event begins on July 29.
Persons:
Olga Kharlan, Anna Smirnova, Smirnova, Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, Mykhailo Illiashev, Illiashev, Kharlan, Aadi Nair, Anna Pruchnika, Pritha Sarkar
Organizations:
Fencing Federation, Thomson
Locations:
Ukrainian, Milan, Ukraine, Moscow, Belarus, Russia