"The Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych has been kicked out of the Winter Olympics after he refused to back down from wearing a helmet of memory in honour of Ukraine's war dead. The decision was announced by the International Olympic Committee just 21 minutes before the first round of the men's skeleton competition in Cortina on Thursday after last-ditch talks between the IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, and Heraskevych failed to find a breakthrough."
"In a terse statement, the IOC said it had removed Heraskevych's accreditation because of his refusal to comply with the IOC's Guidelines on Athlete Expression. Having been given one final opportunity, skeleton pilot Vladylsav Heraskevych from Ukraine will not be able to start his race at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games this morning, it said. The decision followed his refusal to comply with the IOC's Guidelines on Athlete Expression."
Vladyslav Heraskevych was expelled from the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games after refusing to remove a helmet meant to honour Ukraine's war dead. The IOC withdrew his accreditation 21 minutes before the first men's skeleton run following last-ditch talks between IOC president Kirsty Coventry and Heraskevych. The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation jury deemed the helmet non-compliant with equipment rules and the IOC cited his refusal to follow the Guidelines on Athlete Expression. Heraskevych cannot start the race, must leave the athletes' village immediately, and said he would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Britain's skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold criticised the decision and called for an apology, while members of the sliding community expressed shock and confusion.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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