Ukraine’s Heraskevych has appeal for Winter Olympic reinstatement dismissed

Ukraine's skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Milano Cortina Winter Games due to repeatedly wearing a helmet that depicts Ukrainian athletes killed in the war with Russia. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) made the decision after a meeting with IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who had attempted to find an alternative solution for the athlete's message. Heraskevych was informed of his disqualification shortly before his competition began. The IOC offered him the opportunity to display his helmet and wear a black armband during the race, but ultimately decided that no messaging was allowed in the field of play. The decision was made to ensure a safe environment for everyone. Heraskevych's team plans to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Ukrainian Olympic athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from competing at the Winter Games in Italy due to a helmet he planned to wear to commemorate athletes killed in the war with Russia. The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation ruled that the helmet violated the Games' ban on political speech, despite Heraskevych's claim that it did not. Olympic officials had offered him an alternative option of wearing a black armband to memorialize the dead. However, Heraskevych stated he wanted to wear the helmet anyway. The International Olympic Committee withdrew his accreditation for the Games after he refused to compromise on his decision. The incident has become one of the first major controversies at the 2026 Winter Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has banned Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych from wearing a helmet featuring images of Ukrainian athletes killed in the war with Russia during the Winter Games in Italy. Heraskevych intended the helmet as a tribute to those who died. The IOC cited the Olympic Charter's prohibition of political statements at Olympic sites as the reason for the ban. An IOC spokesperson stated that while athletes can express themselves freely outside of competition, the field of play must remain neutral. The Ukrainian Olympic committee requested permission for the helmet, but the IOC ultimately denied it, allowing Heraskevych to wear a black armband instead. The decision was communicated to Heraskevych after a training session.