IOC disqualifies Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych for helmet honoring war dead, sparking criticism from President Zelenskyy.

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladylsav Heraskevych has been disqualified from the Winter Olympics due to his helmet, which features pictures of people killed in the war with Russia.

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was banned by the IOC from competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday, Feb. 12 because of his insistence on racing in a helmet depicting athletes who have been killed during Russia's invasion of his country.

Ukrainian Olympian banned from Winter Games for insisting on wearing helmet honoring athletes killed in his country's war with Russia​.

Skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych wanted to wear a helmet depicting Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed in the ongoing war against Russia.

Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych has been disqualified from the Winter Olympics by the International Olympic Committee after being found to have breached regulations over political messages.

Follow live text, BBC TV coverage, radio commentary, reaction and updates from the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.

As Ukrainian athletes prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics, they will seek to boost the morale of their compatriots in Ukraine amid an ongoing war and a brutal winter.