The IOC has banned Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from the Milano Cortina Winter Games for wearing a helmet depicting Ukrainian athletes killed in the war with Russia. Heraskevych’s team plans to appeal the decision. The IOC offered him the chance to display the helmet before and after the race, but he was disqualified for wearing it during competition. The Ukrainian Olympic Committee supports Heraskevych but will not boycott the Games. Heraskevych believes the decision betrays the memory of the athletes depicted on his helmet. This is not the first time an athlete has been sanctioned for a political message at the Olympics.
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