Europe 1 with AFP 22:43 p.m., March 21, 2023, modified at 22:44 p.m., March 21, 2023

After the announcement of reinstatement made by the International Fencing Federation of Russians and Belarusians, the Ukrainian Federation has, in turn, decided to carry its voice after an emergency meeting. Ukraine will not send athletes if the Federation does not reverse its decision.

The Ukrainian Fencing Federation announced on Monday that it would boycott any competition in which Russian and Belarusian athletes are engaged, due to the invasion of the country by Moscow's troops, it was learned Tuesday. "It has been decided not only not to participate in any duel in competition with Russian and Belarusian athletes, but also, for our athletes, coaches and referees, not to participate in any competition in which Russian or Belarusian athletes will participate," the federation said in a statement the day after an "emergency meeting" to make this decision.

The Ukrainian Federation also says it wants to challenge the "illegal and shameful decision" of its International Federation, which authorized on March 10 the reinstatement of Russian and Belarusian fencers in the events of the world circuit. The FIE's decision does not prejudge any participation in the 2024 Olympic Games and leaves the hand to the IOC since it will be effective "subject to possible future recommendations/decisions of the IOC".

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No or few Ukrainians present?

The choice of Kiev, on the other hand, could greatly reduce the chances of participation of its athletes, the qualifying tournaments of the 2024 Olympic Games should begin in early April before then spreading until March 31, 2024. After the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian athletes were excluded from competitions and the debate over their possible reinstatement is currently lively.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was totally opposed to the possible reinstatement of these athletes, including under a neutral banner. But other countries, such as the United States, have already declared themselves in favor of the neutral banner compromise. At the end of January, the IOC proposed a roadmap to organise the return to competition of athletes under a neutral flag, provided that they had "not actively supported the war in Ukraine".