Ukraine condemns IOC disqualification of skeleton racer over helmet tribute to war-dead athletes

Kyiv, Ukraine. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the International Olympic Committee’s decision to disqualify skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych over a helmet tribute to athletes killed in the war with Russia “a moment of shame.”

Sybiha criticises IOC decision

Sybiha said in a post on X that the IOC had “banned not the Ukrainian athlete, but its own reputation,” adding that “future generations will recall this as a moment of shame.” He said Heraskevych had sought to commemorate fellow athletes killed in the war and that there was nothing wrong with that “under any rules or ethics.”

Disqualification and planned appeal

Heraskevych was informed of his disqualification after meeting IOC President Kirsty Coventry early in the morning at the sliding venue, shortly before his competition was due to start. His team said it would appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Coventry cites rules and field-of-play restrictions

Coventry told reporters she wanted to meet the athlete face to face in an effort to resolve the situation. She said she did not disagree with the message on the helmet, describing it as a “powerful message” of remembrance, but said the challenge was finding a solution for the field of play.

She said the matter was about rules and regulations and the need to keep a safe environment, adding that “no messaging is allowed.”

IOC proposed alternatives; Ukraine will not boycott

The IOC offered Heraskevych the chance to display his “helmet of remembrance,” depicting 24 images of dead compatriots, before and after Thursday’s race, and to wear a black armband while competing.

Ukraine’s Olympic Committee, which supported Heraskevych, said it was not planning to boycott the Games over the disqualification.

What do you think the IOC’s decision will mean for future disputes over messaging in competition?