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CAS Upholds Heraskevych’s Disqualification Over Memorial Helmet at 2026 Olympics

Heraskevych is channeling the decision into a remembrance effort focused on fallen Ukrainian athletes and their families.

Overview

  • The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation barred Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing after he refused to remove a helmet bearing images of Ukrainians killed in the war.
  • The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed his appeal, saying Olympic neutrality rules reasonably balance athlete expression with competition requirements.
  • The IOC had proposed alternatives that allowed a black armband during the run and the helmet to be shown before and after, proposals Heraskevych rejected.
  • Olympic officials later restored his accreditation so he could remain at the Games in a non-competing capacity.
  • President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded him the Order of Freedom in Munich, and Heraskevych says he will pursue further legal steps and launch a fundraising initiative with Athletes for Peace to aid victims’ families.