Vladyslav Heraskevych will not compete in the men’s skeleton event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics after officials ruled that a helmet he planned to wear violated Olympic rules on political expression.

The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), which governs the sport, determined that the helmet was not compliant. Following that decision, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) withdrew Heraskevych’s accreditation for the remainder of the Games, ending his Olympic campaign.

Dispute over Rule 50

The controversy centers on Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which restricts political, religious and racial demonstrations at Olympic venues. The rule has been debated in recent Olympic cycles as athletes have pushed for greater freedom to speak out on global issues.

Heraskevych, 27, wore the helmet during a training session in Cortina. The design paid tribute to people killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In Instagram posts, he said some of those remembered were fellow athletes.

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Olympic officials concluded the tribute fell under Rule 50.2, which states that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said organizers offered what he described as a compromise: Heraskevych would be allowed to race while wearing a black armband instead.

Athlete rejects compromise

Heraskevych declined the proposal and publicly criticized the decision. He accused the IOC of “betraying those athletes who were part of the Olympic movement” by “not allowing them to be honoured on the sports arena where these athletes will never be able to step again.”

He also defended the helmet itself, writing: “The IOC has turned the situation with the ‘memory helmet’ into a theatre of the absurd. It’s obvious that it does not violate any IOC rules.”

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In a statement confirming the outcome, Olympic officials said Heraskevych had been given a final opportunity to comply with the Guidelines on Athlete Expression but refused. The IBSF jury then ruled he would not be permitted to start the race, and the IOC withdrew his accreditation.

You can see the post here.

Impact on Ukraine’s delegation

Heraskevych was the only Ukrainian athlete to qualify for the men’s skeleton event and one of 46 competitors representing Ukraine at these Games. His removal narrows the country’s presence in sliding sports and underscores the continuing tension between the Olympic movement’s neutrality rules and athletes seeking to draw attention to the war at home.

Sources: IOC statement, Vladyslav Heraskevych Instagram posts

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