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CAS Upholds Ban on Ukrainian Skeleton Racer as Zelenskyy Awards Order of Freedom

State recognition has transformed a rules decision into a wider political dispute over Olympic neutrality.

Overview

  • The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed Vladyslav Heraskevych’s appeal, keeping his disqualification for wearing a memorial helmet in place.
  • Olympic officials said the helmet breached field-of-play expression rules and proposed alternatives, including a black armband and displaying the helmet outside competition.
  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented Heraskevych with Ukraine’s Order of Freedom in Munich and praised his effort to honor athletes killed in the war.
  • Organizers later restored Heraskevych’s accreditation, allowing him to stay at the Games in a non-competing capacity.
  • Ukrainian athletes staged gestures of support, the helmet featured images of more than 20 slain athletes and coaches, and Heraskevych vowed further legal steps plus a charity drive for victims’ families.