Ukrainian skeleton racer Heraskevich said in response to the IOC’s decision that the 2006 Winter Olympics “will serve as propaganda for Russia.”
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Published February 13, 2026
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) began hearing the appeal of Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladislav Heraskevich on Friday, and is expected to rule later that day on whether he can return to competition at the Milan-Cortina Olympics after being disqualified for wearing a “memorial helmet.”
The 27-year-old athlete was removed from the Olympic program on Thursday after a jury from the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation ruled that a painting on his helmet depicting an athlete killed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 violated the tournament’s rules on political neutrality.
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Heraskevic is seeking to return, or at least compete under CAS supervision, pending a ruling from the highest court in sport ahead of the final two runs scheduled for Friday night.
“I am quite positive about the course of the trial,” he told reporters outside the CAS offices in Milan after his court appearance. “I hope the truth prevails and I know I’m innocent.”
The racer said he was currently receiving threats from the Russians, which he blamed on the IOC’s decision.
“I believe that this Games and this action by the IOC also serves as a means of Russian propaganda,” Heraskevich said. “I still receive many threats from the Russian side.”
The IOC, whose president Kirsty Coventry met with Heraskevic on Thursday in a last-ditch effort to break the impasse, allowed the athlete to retain her eligibility despite her disqualification, allowing her to remain at the Milan-Cortina Games.
“I sat down with Vladislav and his father, and for me that conversation was a very respectful one,” Coventry said at a press conference Friday. “I then asked the disciplinary committee to reconsider not revoking his certification out of respect for him and his father. I thought that was the right thing to do.”
The incident dominated the headlines during the first week of the Olympics.
CAS Secretary-General Mathieu Lieb could not say exactly when a decision might be reached, despite the tight schedule.
“We hope that a final decision will be announced today, but it’s difficult to say when that will be,” Reeve told reporters. “Obviously we know the competition schedule and it is CAS’ goal to make a decision before the race starts, but we do not know how long the hearing will take.
“There is only one arbitrator from Germany and she will be in charge of this case. We have the participants present in person, just like the IOC, the athletes are here, the athletes’ fathers are here.
“Representatives of the IBSF are also participating remotely. The players are also supported by lawyers who will speak from Kiev.”
