I don't get it, the Russian athlete was competing as a neutral to begin with.
So how is a determination made by another that she is fully onboard with her country's actions in Ukraine?...to not handshake?...even by their own logic. That logic would need the other athlete to be officially representing their country.
IOC is indeed hypocrite organisation here.
As Chess fan, I know the policies that FIDE have taken against Russia as a whole right after the war started.....which surprised me to begin with given strength of Russia within FIDE (especially its politics side).
All Russian competitors compete under FIDE neutrality now in FIDE events.... action was taken against players like Karjakin who expressed support for the war even (FIDE essentially refuses to invite him to their events now). So every Russian player that does compete neutrally are ones that dont comment openly and even have issues with the war but have to measure way they can express this given their families back home etc (I have seen for example the discomfort Ian Nepomniatchi has o n the topic but still takes his stand against the war:
https://english.elpais.com/sports/2...sian-who-opposes-the-invasion-of-ukraine.html)
Action would be taken against anyone that doesn't give the handshake or boycotts a game with a Russian in Chess now competing under FIDE flag (and the only way they can with FIDE just like how IOC took action against Russia after Sochi doping).
This is about the best compromise that is achieved....there is difference between Russia the state and Russians the people (and treat them collectively as the same thing no matter what).
"No handshake" in chess is at best grandfathered in in very rare instances, but nothing to do with politics/war, just personal dispute like between Kramnik and Topalov but thats different long story. It is unacceptable to do past that.
Did the Russian fencer openly express support of the war or something like Karjakin (who did so in pretty gross way too) ?
Would IOC do same thing if issue involved american and iraqi athlete w.r.t iraq war?
If not, then a handshake should be given (neutral flag) and IOC should stick with the principled rule applied to one that doesnt give it. Making exceptions makes the issue worse.