Ukrainian skeleton pilot Vladislav Geraskevich has been disqualified from the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics after refusing to remove politically sensitive imagery from his helmet, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Thursday.
The helmet displays images of Ukrainian athletes killed during the conflict with Russia. After several days of efforts to resolve the issue, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) jury disqualified Geraskevich because “he did not consider any form of compromise,” the IOC said.
The committee said it had no objection to Geraskevich honoring fallen athletes, noting Olympic venues offer many appropriate ways to do so, but he insisted on violating 2021 guidelines restricting political expression. He wore the controversial helmet during all training runs, the statement said.
Geraskevich, ranked 12th in 2018 and 18th in 2022, and was a Ukrainian flag bearer at the opening ceremony. He had repeatedly complained about the helmet controversy on social media.
The Ukrainian accused the IOC of double standards, noting an Israeli athlete was allowed to wear a kippah commemorating victims of the 1972 Munich massacre during the opening ceremony. Skeletonist Jared Firestone wore the kippah under a regular hat while carrying Israel’s flag.
Ukrainian short-track skater Oleg Gandey and freestyle skier Ekaterina Kotsar said the IOC similarly instructed them not to use equipment with political messaging at Olympic events.