Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych has accused the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) of “betrayal” after it banned him from sporting a helmet that includes footage of athletes and pals killed in the course of the ongoing Russian invasion in Ukraine.
Ukraine appealed the ban on the grounds that Heraskevych needs to be permitted to put on a commemorative helmet depicting weightlifter Alina Peregudova, boxer Pavlo Ishchenko and hockey participant Oleksiy Loginov.
The IOC rejected the attraction, citing a violation of its guidelines on political expression.
Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Constitution states: “No sort of demonstration or political, non secular or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic websites, venues or different areas.”
IOC spokesperson Mark Adams stated the governing physique would permit Heraskevych to put on a black armband whereas competing.
“There was a casual assembly final night time with Mr. Heraskevych, his coach and the delegation, and we reiterated our understanding of the athlete’s want to pay tribute to his fellow Ukrainian athletes, which he’s finished throughout coaching and on social media,” Adams stated throughout a press convention.
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“After the assembly, we even have reiterated that we’ll make an exception to the rules to permit him to put on a black armband throughout competitors to make that commemoration.”
This isn’t the primary time Heraskevych has made a press release on the sporting world’s most prestigious stage.
Whereas competing on the 2022 Beijing Olympics, he held up an indication studying, “No Conflict in Ukraine.”
In an Instagram put up on Tuesday, following the helmet ban, he shared {a photograph} from that second, writing, “Sadly, over these years this name for peace has solely change into much more related.”
“Additionally over these 4 years, the IOC has modified dramatically. Again then, in that motion, they noticed a name for peace and didn’t apply any sanctions in opposition to me.”
“Now, on the Olympics, now we have already seen a lot of Russian flags within the stands, on the helmet of one of many athletes — and for the IOC, this isn’t a violation.”
He stated the helmet “pays tribute to members of the Ukrainian sports activities household who’ve been killed for the reason that final Olympic Video games have been held.”
“The reality is on our facet. I hope for a good last determination from the IOC,” he concluded.
In a separate video, he criticized the IOC for inconsistent enforcement of its guidelines in opposition to Ukrainians and for “betraying” the athletes pictured on his helmet by not permitting them to be honoured.
He referenced different incidents all through Olympic historical past when athletes have been allowed to honour the dying of family members with out punishment, together with German weightlifter Matthias Steiner, who, on the rostrum after successful gold on the 2008 Beijing Olympics, held a photograph of his late spouse, who had died in a automobile accident greater than a yr prior.
“Regardless of precedents in trendy occasions and up to now when the IOC allowed such tributes, this time they determined to set particular guidelines only for Ukraine,” Heraskevych wrote.
— With information from International Information’ Adriana Fallico
© 2026 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
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