Ukrainian Athlete Disqualified From Winter Olympics Over Helmet

The committee said sporting the helmet breaks rules against making statements on the field of play.

A Ukrainian athlete has been disqualified from the Winter Olympics.

Skeleton athlete, Vladyslav Heraskevych, was a likely medal contender at the Milan Cortina Games. He was banned from racing Thursday after refusing a last-minute plea from the International Olympic Committee.

Heraskevych was wearing a helmet that honors more than 20 athletes and coaches killed in his country’s war with Russia. The committee said sporting the helmet breaks rules against making statements on the field of play. The International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation said his decision to wear the helmet was “inconsistent with the olympic charter and guidelines on athlete expression.”

Heraskevych wore the helmet in training, but the IOC asked for him to wear a different helmet in races. It offered concessions, such as wearing a black armband or letting him display the helmet once he was off the ice. However, the athlete stood his ground and the decision to ban him came around 45 minutes before the start of the competition.