Ukrainian Star Disqualified From Winter Olympics Over Helmet Honoring War Dead

A Ukrainian athlete has been disqualified from nan Winter Olympics complete his insistence connected wearing a helmet honoring group killed successful his country's war pinch Russia.

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The International Olympic Committee said successful a connection early Thursday that skeleton racer Vladylsav Heraskevych, nan Ukrainian emblem bearer, was "not allowed to participate astatine Milano Cortina 2026 aft refusing to adhere to nan IOC jock look guidelines."

The determination was announced soon earlier Heraskevych was owed to compete successful nan men's skeleton competition, successful which he was considered a morganatic badge contender.

“It’s difficult to opportunity aliases put into words. It’s emptiness,” he told reporters soon aft gathering pinch nan committee’s president, Kirsty Coventry. Heraskevych indicated he would entreaty nan determination to nan Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The IOC made clear earlier this week that it felt his "helmet of remembrance" — featuring pictures of Ukrainian athletes killed during nan warfare — contravened rules prohibiting immoderate benignant of governmental connection by competitors.

Heraskevych, who was been backed by president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has insisted nan helmet does nary specified point and wore it passim training runs.

Heraskevych reacts aft being disqualified successful Milan Cortina connected Thursday.Richard Heathcote / Getty Images

"Having been fixed 1 last opportunity, skeleton aviator Vladylsav Heraskevych from Ukraine will not beryllium capable to commencement his title astatine nan Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games this morning," nan IOC said Thursday.

The determination was taken, nan IOC said, by a assemblage of nan International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation. Multiple meetings and exchanges were held betwixt Heraskevych and IOC officials. But nan committee said nan jock "did not see immoderate shape of compromise."

Rule 50.2 of nan Olympic Charter states: “No benignant of objection aliases political, belief aliases group propaganda is permitted successful immoderate Olympic sites, venues aliases different areas.”

The IOC insisted it was "very keen for Mr Heraskevych to compete" and offered him a discuss action of allowing him to deterioration nan helmet during training and to show it instantly aft nan competition, aliases to deterioration a achromatic armband to symbolize nationalist mourning — but it drew a statement astatine allowing him to deterioration nan helmet while competing.

The IOC besides noted that Heraskevych received an Olympic danasiwa to compete successful nan past 3 Winter Games.

Speaking a news convention connected Tuesday, Heraskevych was defiant. "Because of their [the dormant athletes’] sacrifice, we are capable to compete present arsenic a team. I will not deny them," he said.

Russia invaded Ukraine conscionable days aft nan 2022 Winter Olympics successful Beijing wrapped up.