Ukrainian skeleton racer disqualified over tribute helmet

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from Thursday’s Olympic competition after refusing to switch from a helmet honoring athletes and coaches killed in the war with Russia, a decision the International Olympic Committee said violated rules against political messaging on the field of play. The ruling was reported by Reuters and detailed by AP News.

Why he was disqualified

The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation said the helmet conflicted with the Olympic Charter and athlete-expression guidelines, after the IOC asked Heraskevych to race in a different helmet while allowing the tribute helmet during training. The IOC offered compromises, including a black armband or displaying the helmet off the ice, but Heraskevych refused, according to Reuters and ESPN.

IOC meeting and appeal plans

IOC President Kirsty Coventry met Heraskevych at the sliding center on race morning and later said no compromise could be found, an emotional exchange covered by AP News. Reuters reported that Heraskevych’s team plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and that he was ultimately allowed to keep his Games accreditation after an initial move to revoke it.

Rules and broader context

The IOC said it must keep the field of play free of messaging and cited past sanctions for political statements at the Games, while Heraskevych argued the tribute was a memorial, not a protest. Both Reuters and AP noted the decision came shortly before the race started, ending a dayslong dispute that became one of the early controversies of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

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