Zelenskyy says ‘no rules broken’ after Olympics bans Ukraine racer

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera Staff,News AgenciesFebruary 12, 2026 at 07:40 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was banned from competing at the Milan Cortina Games by the IOC due to his helmet design, which commemorated Ukrainian athletes killed in the war with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the decision, stating that the helmet was a reminder of Russian aggression and that "no rule has been broken." The IOC defended its decision, citing rules regarding displays on the field of play, while acknowledging the helmet's powerful message. Heraskevych was awarded the Order of Freedom by presidential decree following the ban. Despite the "unjust decision," Ukraine's Sports Minister confirmed that the team of 46 athletes will remain in the Olympics.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Reuters 30% Matvii Bidnyi 50% Milan Cortina Games 60% Kirsty Coventry ×260% Russia ×270% Ukraine ×275% International Olympic Committee (IOC) ×485% Volodymyr Zelenskyy ×290% Vladyslav Heraskevych ×695%

Keywords

olympics ban 100% vladyslav heraskevych 90% helmet design 80% ukraine 70% international olympic committee 70% killed athletes 60% russian aggression 60% skeleton racer 50% rules violation 50% sports politics 40%