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CAS Refuses to Reinstate Vladyslav Heraskevych After Olympic Helmet Protest Ruling
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The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ad hoc division for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics dismissed Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych’s request to be reinstated after he was removed from the men’s event over plans to compete in a helmet bearing portraits of athletes killed in Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to Reuters on February 13.
In a media release, CAS said Heraskevych challenged a jury decision by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation to withdraw him from the competition after the International Olympic Committee ruled on February 10 that the helmet violated the Olympic Charter and the IOC’s Athlete Expression Guidelines, a decision CAS noted was not challenged in the case and “remains in force.”
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CAS said the sole arbitrator found the guidelines strike a “reasonable balance” between athletes’ freedom of expression and the interest of athletes in receiving “undivided attention” during competition, adding that freedom of speech is protected at the Olympics but can be limited “on the field of play.”
The court also added that the arbitrator considered the restrictions “reasonable and proportionate,” citing alternative avenues for expression such as mixed zones, press conferences, social media, and the fact that Heraskevych was able to wear the helmet during training runs.
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CAS also said the arbitrator was “fully sympathetic” to Heraskevych’s commemoration and called it unfair that his accreditation was initially withdrawn, adding she supported the IOC’s decision to return it.
The dispute was handled on an accelerated timetable, with CAS saying a request for provisional measures was rejected shortly after midnight on February 13, a hearing in Milan ran from 09:00 to 11:55, and a final decision was issued at 17:00 GMT+2, with written grounds to follow.
Earlier, it was reported that the IOC disqualified Heraskevych shortly before his skeleton heat at Milano-Cortina 2026 because he planned to compete in a special helmet portraying 24 Ukrainians killed in the war, sparking debate over whether the tribute violated Olympic neutrality rules.
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
