The move made by the Ukrainian athlete banned from the Winter Olympics for his special helmet. The solution is expected urgently
Ukrainian athlete Vladislav Heaskevich, with his helmet, on which are printed images of people killed in the war with Russia. PHOTO: Andrew Milligan, PA Images / Alamy / Profimedia
Vladislav Heaskevich, the disqualified Ukrainian athlete, appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS/CAS) his suspension from the men's skeleton event at the Winter Olympics in Italy on the grounds that he wore a helmet on which were printed the faces of Ukrainian athletes killed during the war with Russia, the court announced on Thursday, according to Reuters.
He requested his reinstatement in the competition or participation in a race held under supervision, the sports court stated.
As the Olympics began shortly after Heraskevich's disqualification on Thursday morning, and the final two races are scheduled for Friday evening, he asked CAS to oversee a race that would allow him to remain in competition until the court's final decision, the tribunal explained.
“Mr. Heraskevich claims that (his) exclusion from the competition is disproportionate, unjustified by any technical or safety violation and causes him irreparable sporting damage,” CAS said in a statement.
The athlete requested “that CAS reinstate him to the 2026 OWG (Olympic Winter Games, no) with immediate effect or, alternatively, conduct an official CAS-supervised race pending a final decision.”
The CAS stated that it will urgently examine the matter, given the circumstances.
The 27-year-old, who had been training in Italy wearing a helmet emblazoned with the names of twenty-four compatriots killed since the Russian invasion began, was banned and initially told his accreditation would be revoked minutes before the luge competition began.
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However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later relayed that Heraskevich remains suspended from competition but is allowed to retain his accreditation and remain at the Milan-Cortina Olympics after President Kirsty Coventry asked the Disciplinary Committee to “reconsider the withdrawal” of the athlete's accreditation.
Coventry met with Heaskevich on Thursday morning in an attempt to convince him to compete without his special helmet, which the IOC said breached rules on athlete expression on the field of play.
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