« Fencing chooses peace. " This is the formula used by the International Fencing Federation (FIE) on July 11 to announce that neutral individual athletes (NIAs) are now authorized to participate in all its official competitions. A hand clearly extended to Russian and Belarusian athletes. If the FIE – which re-elected Alisher Usmanov, a close associate of Vladimir Putin, as president last year – emphasizes that this decision marks its commitment " in favor of peace, equity and global unity in sport ", it makes teeth grind in Ukraine, where the war continues to rage.
The open door for Tbilisi
Neutral athletes who meet the FIE's eligibility criteria now have the green light to compete in the World Championships, which will take place in Tbilisi in the coming days (July 22-30), and in all international competitions. The FIE Executive Committee had just made changes the procedure granting AIN status to alleviate itUntil now, applications were submitted to a cybersecurity firm and an independent lawyer before the FIE made a decision. The process is now faster and less costly, as a simple affidavit of neutrality is all that is required to submit an application to the FIE's Eligibility Review Panel.
« Our approach is guided by our duty to protect athletes and preserve the integrity of competitions. It is firmly anchored in the Olympic Charter and our mission to safeguard the values of fencing. ", explains the executive committee. " The FIE recognizes that many athletes today find themselves in situations over which they are neither responsible nor in control. The FIE's policy is to ensure that no athlete is unfairly excluded, that all athletes are treated fairly, and that sport remains a place of hope, not hostility. “, can we read on the site of the instance.
"A propaganda tool"
The FIE has thus authorized 17 men and 18 women under neutral status for the individual events of the upcoming World Championships. Among them are Olympic medal-winning stars such as Sofiya Velikaya, Yana Egorian, and Olga Nikitina, who are nevertheless linked to CSKA, a Moscow club with ties to the Ministry of Defense. When Russia violates the rules, no one is surprised anymore. But when the FIE covers up these violations, it's a slap in the face to the IOC and its recommendations, to the Olympic Charter, and to all fencers., reacted Ukrainian Olga Kharlan on InstagramMilitary officer Sofiya Velikaya, a major in the Russian army, is not just a fencer. She is a propaganda tool within a vast machine that has justified war and violence for years. »
The President of the Ukrainian Federation, Mykhailo Illiashev, added another layer by emphasizing that " This whole process of verifying the neutrality of Russian fencers is a farce " These World Championships will be closely scrutinized in this context, a year after the Paris 2024 Games, where only 15 Russian athletes were entered, in five different disciplines (canoeing, cycling, gymnastics, swimming, and tennis). Russians will also be able to take part in team competitions, as was the case at the European Championships in June.
The FIE has chosen to address almost all possible barriers, arguing: " Sport has always been a powerful vehicle for reconciliation and understanding. The FIE's decision reflects a shared conviction that athletes should not suffer the consequences of geopolitical events beyond their control, while reflecting the spirit of the guidance provided by the IOC. The FIE believes that fencing must continue to unite, not divide, and that every athlete who embraces peace deserves a place in our family. » This is difficult to hear in Ukraine, whose people are still suffering from strikes and drone attacks. In June, the UN human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine recorded 232 deaths and 1.343 injuries. A sad monthly record since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
