'shocking' Or Correct - Why Ukraine Skeleton Slider Was Banned

The determination to prohibition Heraskevych has drawn daze and condemnation from galore erstwhile and existent Olympic athletes.

Lizzy Yarnold, Team GB's two-time Olympic skeleton golden medallist, told BBC Sport: "I deliberation it is really rather shocking. Within nan sliding organization location is daze and confusion.

"This [wearing nan helmet] was a guidance to thing which was an enactment of memorial and incredibly emotionally important to him.

"I deliberation nan IOC beryllium him an apology and this was nan incorrect decision."

Two-time Olympic bobsledder John Jackson was arsenic unimpressed pinch nan IOC.

Jackson, who besides served arsenic a Royal Marines commando, told nan BBC: "His attack to that is astir remembering those who person fallen.

"For me, being subject and now a veteran, remembrance is really important to each veterans. We person each mislaid friends and colleagues successful conflict, and we each cognize personification who isn't present and paid nan eventual sacrifice.

"I support him successful what he was trying to achieve. It is really important to retrieve those who person fixed their life for thing that yet doesn't request to happen."

Heraskevych meantime told nan BBC that being banned only near him emotion "emptiness."

"Yesterday and earlier yesterday I was training good. I could beryllium among nan medallists for this event, but abruptly because of immoderate mentation of nan rules that I do not work together with, I americium not capable to compete," he said.

"Expression guidelines - what do you see arsenic expression? Many others present successful this arena person helmets pinch different colours and I judge that is besides a benignant of expression.

"Some others had nationalist symbols, that is besides expression. For immoderate reason, their helmets weren't checked and they were allowed to compete but I americium not.

"I judge they [those who person fallen] merit to beryllium present because of their sacrifice. I want to honour them and their families."

Heraskevych's world squad mates showed their support passim Thursday's title successful Italy.

Alpine skier Dmytro Shepiuk displayed a statement reference "Ukrainian heroes pinch us" aft competing, while luger Olena Smaha besides voiced support for Heraskevych wearing a mitt reading: "Remembrance is not a violation."

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky accused nan IOC of "playing into nan hands of nan Russian aggressor" aft Heraskevych's disqualification

"Sport shouldn't mean amnesia, and nan Olympic activity should thief extremity wars, not play into nan hands of aggressors," he wrote connected X, external.

"Unfortunately, nan determination of nan International Olympic Committee to disqualify Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych says otherwise."