Ukraine lifts ban on athletes competing against Russians, but tensions continue

On Thursday, the Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan was disqualified  from the World Fencing Championships after refusing to shake hands with Russian fencer Anna Smirnova. 

It was the latest episode illustrating how the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine is going beyond the battlefield and into sporting events.

Just days ago the Ukrainian sports ministry announced that it was lifting its ban on Ukrainian athletes competing against Russian and Belarusian athletes, clearing the way for Ukrainian participation in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.