![The IOC stripped Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych of eligibility for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics after he insisted on wearing a helmet honoring teammates killed in the war with Russia. [Photo: Yonhap/Reuters]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2026/02/12/20260212183551485250.jpg)
The IOC said Thursday (Korea time) that Heraskevych was barred from the Games for failing to comply with its athlete freedom-of-expression guidelines.
During training runs for the event, Heraskevych wore a custom helmet bearing images of 24 Ukrainian athletes who died during the war, the IOC said.
The IOC ruled that the helmet violated Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter, which says “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”
As an alternative, the IOC proposed that he wear a memorial armband. The IOC said IOC President Kirsty Coventry met with Heraskevych earlier Thursday for talks.
Heraskevych refused. “Because of the sacrifice of the athletes who died, we were able to compete here as one team,” he said. “I cannot betray them,” he added, reiterating he would keep wearing the helmet.
The IOC said it “regrettably” withdrew his eligibility after he made clear he would not consider any compromise.
The Associated Press reported that Heraskevych said he would challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Heraskevych also drew attention at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when he held a sign after his race reading “No war in Ukraine.” The IOC at the time said it did not violate the charter because it was simply a call for peace.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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