Ukrainian racer kicked out of Olympics for ‘statement’ helmetThe helmet worn by Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych featured pictures of people who died because of the Russian invasion. (Photo: AFP)CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy - Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Winter Olympics on Thursday after refusing to back down over his banned helmet, which depicts victims of his country’s war with Russia. The International Olympic Committee said he had been kicked out of the Milan-Cortina Games “after refusing to adhere to the IOC athlete expression guidelines”. The IOC said in statement on Thursday that the skeleton racer’s accreditation for the Games had been withdrawn. “These people that he showed in his helmet, they’re real people that died because of the Russian invasion,” she said.

Source: Bangkok Post February 12, 2026 17:35 UTC