Heraskevych barred after refusing IOC helmet switch
Ukrainian skeletoner Vladyslav Heraskevych was ruled out of the Milano Cortina 2026 men’s race on Thursday after refusing to change a helmet honouring athletes killed in Russia’s invasion. IOC President Kirsty Coventry held a last-minute trackside meeting about 75 minutes before the start, but the medal hopeful stood firm and said he will appeal to CAS. “It’s emptiness,” Heraskevych told reporters, insisting, “The helmet does not violate any IOC rules.” The IOC said the IBSF jury deemed it non-compliant under athlete-expression guidelines, adding, “The essence of this case is not about the message, it is about where he wanted to express it.”