A Ukrainian skeleton racer has been banned from competing at the Winter Olympics after wearing a helmet honoring athletes who have died in the Ukraine War.
The International Olympics Committee (IOC) set out its reasoning in a lengthy statement this morning after Vladyslav Heraskevych had questioned whether “this is the price of our dignity” on X in response to the IOC’s initial ban. The skeleton racer, the IOC and the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation have been meeting over the past couple of days to try and resolve the issue, which emerged after he first wore the helmet in a qualifying race.
Heraskevych’s helmet has images of Ukrainian athletes killed during the Ukraine War, which has now been raging for almost four years.
“Having been given one final opportunity, skeleton pilot Vladylsav Heraskevych from Ukraine will not be able to start his race at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games this morning,” said an IOC statement earlier today. “The decision followed his refusal to comply with the IOC’s Guidelines on Athlete Expression. It was taken by the jury of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) based on the fact that the helmet he intended to wear was not compliant with the rules.”
The IOC said that “despite multiple exchanges and in-person meetings between the IOC and Mr Heraskevych, the last one this morning with IOC President Kirsty Coventry, he did not consider any form of compromise.” The committee said athletes are “offered a number of opportunities to mourn and express their views” at the olympics but “the essence of this case is not about the message, it is about where he wanted to express it.”
The IOC also provided a timeline, ending its statement by saying the decision to ban Heraskevych had the full support of the IBSF and Winter Olympic Federations. IOC spokesperson Mark Adams was forced to defend the decision in a press conference this morning, saying “we want him to compete.”
Heraskevych posted earlier: “I want to thank everyone for all the support we’re receiving. There really is an incredible amount of it. For me, the sacrifice of the people depicted on the helmet means more than any medal ever could – because they gave the most precious thing they had. And simple respect.”
Athletes are banned from representing Russia at the Winter Olympics but 13 Russians are competing as Individual Neutral Athletes.
