Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladislav Heraskevych has been disqualified from the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games in Italy following a controversy regarding his equipment.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the 27-year-old athlete was barred from the starting line for wearing a specialized helmet featuring the images of 24 compatriots killed during the Russia-Ukraine war. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled that Heraskevych’s action violated internal regulations prohibiting political messages on the field of play.
Just minutes before the competition was scheduled to begin, the athlete was informed of his disqualification and the potential revocation of his accreditation. However, following an intervention by Kirsty Coventry, an IOC official and member of the Disciplinary Commission, the decision to cancel his credentials was reconsidered. While Heraskevych was permitted to remain at the Milano-Cortina Games, his right to participate in the skeleton event was not reinstated.
The athlete sharply criticized the decision, stating:
“I was disqualified and lost the chance to live my Olympic moment. Even though those athletes were killed, their voices are so loud that the IOC is afraid of them.”The Ukrainian team and Heraskevych’s legal representatives have announced they will appeal the disqualification to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The IOC has historically maintained a strict stance on Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which states that "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas." The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, officially the XXV Olympic Winter Games, are being hosted across various venues in northern Italy, emphasizing a return to traditional winter sports hubs.
