The IOC has banned athlete Vladislav Heraskevich for repeatedly wearing a helmet depicting a Ukrainian athlete who died in the war with Russia.
listen to this article3 minutes
information
Published February 12, 2026
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Thursday that Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladislav Heraskevich has been disqualified from the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics for wearing a helmet depicting a Ukrainian athlete who died in the war with Russia.
He was informed of his disqualification after meeting with IOC president Kirsty Coventry at the sliding venue in the early morning hours before the start of the competition.
His team said they would appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Coventry told reporters he had hoped to meet with athletes in person in a last-ditch effort to break the impasse.
“I wasn’t planning on coming here, but I thought it was really important to come here and talk to him face to face,” Coventry told reporters. “Nobody, especially me, disagrees with this message. It is a powerful message, a message of remembrance, a message of remembrance.
“The challenge was to find a solution for the stadium. Unfortunately, we were unable to find that solution,” she added, her voice breaking. “I really wanted to see him race and it was a very emotional morning.
“It’s literally about rules and regulations, and in this case… we have to be able to maintain a safe environment for everyone. Unfortunately, that just means we’re not allowed to send messages.”
The IOC offered the athlete the opportunity to display 24 “memorial helmets” depicting fallen compatriots before the start and after the race on Thursday, while also allowing him to wear a black armband during the competition.
The Ukrainian Olympic Committee, which supported Heraskevich in the case, said it had no plans to boycott the Games over the disqualification.
There is no betrayal
“I’m disqualified from the race. I won’t get an Olympic moment,” Heraskevic said.
“They were killed, but the IOC is afraid of them because their voices are so loud. I have told Coventry that this decision is in line with what Russia is saying.”
“I truly believe that it is because of their sacrifices that the Olympics can be held today.
“Even if the IOC tries to betray the memories of the athletes, I will not betray them,” the athlete said. He also held up a “No War in Ukraine” placard at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, days before the Russian invasion.
Latvian coach Ivo Steinbergs told Reuters he had lodged a complaint with the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation seeking his return.
The skeleton began Thursday morning.
This is not the first time the IOC has sanctioned an athlete for a political message.
The most famous incident dates back to the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. On this occasion, American sprinters Tommy Smith and John Carlos raised their black-gloved fists during the 200-meter medal ceremony to protest racial injustice in the United States.
This caused them to be expelled from the competition, but Smith retained the gold medal and Carlos the bronze medal.
Maniza Talash, an Afghan breakdancer who is part of the Refugee Olympic Team, was disqualified from the 2024 Paris Olympics after wearing a cape with the slogan “Liberate Afghan Women” written on it during a qualifying competition.
