Ukrainian Skeleton Athlete Disqualified From Olympics Over Helmet Dispute

Winter Olympics organizers barred Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing in the Milan Cortino games after he insisted on wearing a helmet featuring Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia's invasion.

In a statement on February 12, the International Olympic Committee ruled that the helmet Heraskevych intended to wear violated competition guidelines.

"The essence of this case is not about the message, it is about where he wanted to express it," the committee said.

The IOC said it held multiple exchanges and in-person meetings with Heraskevych, including with President Kirsty Coventry, but he refused to compromise.

He was notified of his disqualification shortly before the start of his competition on February 12, and his team said they would appeal the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

However, CAS, sport's top court, late on February 13 said it had denied Heraskevych's appeal.

CAS Secretary-General Matthieu Reeb told reporters that CAS had "found that freedom of expression is guaranteed at the Olympic Games, but not on the field of play, which is a sacred principle."

In a video released on February 12, Heraskevych said: "I never wanted a scandal with the IOC, and I did not create it. The IOC created it with its interpretation of the rules, which many view as discriminatory."

"This is price of our dignity," he added, in a separate social media post.

Ukraine's Olympic Committee, which backed Heraskevych in the case, said it was not planning to boycott the games over his disqualification.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha took to X to thank Heraskevych.

"Future generations will recall this as a moment of shame," he wrote.

"The IOC has banned not the Ukrainian athlete, but its own reputation," he wrote.

He added: "The IOC has also systemically failed to confront the greatest abuser of international sports and the Olympic Charter -- Russia."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also commented, saying that "the Olympic movement should help stop wars rather than play into the hands of aggressors."

"We are proud of Vladyslav and of what he did. Having courage is worth more than any medal," Zelenskyy added.

Later on February 12, Zelenskyy awarded Heraskevych a prestigious award that honors citizens who strengthen the country's independence.

 
Ukrainian Skeleton Athlete Disqualified From Olympics Over Helmet Dispute

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