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Ukrainian Para-Biathlete Oleksandra Kononova Warned by IPC for Wearing “Stop War” Earrings
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Ukrainian para-biathlete Oleksandra Kononova has been cautioned by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for wearing earrings featuring the slogan “Stop War” during her competition.
Kononova, who has already secured two individual medals at the 2026 Winter Paralympics—gold in the biathlon sprint and bronze in the individual race—revealed the reprimand in an exclusive comment to Suspilne Sport on March 8.
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The athlete wore the earrings during the opening day of the Games, but was subsequently informed that they violated the organization’s strict regulations regarding political messaging.
While Kononova appeared in different patriotic earrings the following day, she remained firm in her stance, stating she had anticipated the pushback from organizers.
“After the sprint, they made a remark, saying that according to the regulations, the ‘Stop War’ inscription on the earrings is not allowed, although I ran in them. I feel comfortable because I was ready for them to make a remark. This is my state of mind when I put on patriotic earrings, clothes, uniform, flag. It means a lot to me, I live for this, I work for this. This is what inspires me in sport: my state, anthem, flag. Everything that concerns all of this is with me,” Kononova said.
This incident follows a broader crackdown on Ukrainian national symbols by the IPC. Prior to the Games, the committee banned the Ukrainian national team’s ceremonial uniforms because they featured a map of the country’s internationally recognized borders.
Valeriy Sushkevych, President of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine, revealed that the team was forced into a last-minute wardrobe change after the design was labeled “political.”
“The International Paralympic Committee said: ‘No, no, no – that won't work!’” Sushkevych stated. “They claimed this uniform was political and said no one would be allowed to march in it. It was very beautiful, very symbolic, and it ‘screamed’ that Ukraine exists in the world, in Europe, with all its territories free from Russian occupation.”
The IPC justified the disqualification by citing neutrality guidelines that forbid any public or political messages, as well as slogans related to national identity, on athlete apparel.
“According to IPC rules regarding uniforms for the Paralympic Games, public or political messages, as well as slogans related to national identity, are prohibited,” the committee explained, noting that a country’s map, according to IPC, falls under this restricted category.
Despite these bureaucratic hurdles and a partial boycott of the opening ceremony in protest of the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes under their national flags, the Ukrainian team has demonstrated overwhelming resilience on the snow.
Ukraine’s Paralympic team claimed the top spot in the medal rankings following the first day of the 2026 Winter Games. According to reports from the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine on March 7, the team dominated the biathlon events, securing a total of six medals.
The opening day’s haul included three golds, one silver, and two bronze medals, positioning Ukraine as the overall leader as the competition began.
Earlier, Ukrainian biathlete Taras Rad has delivered Ukraine's first gold medal of the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Italy.
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