The IOC is walking on eggshells. The governing body is under fire after announcing that Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych would not be allowed to compete in Milan-Cortina. The reason: his desire to wear a helmet adorned with images of several Ukrainian athletes who have disappeared since the Russian invasion of the country. This equipment is not " not in accordance with the Olympic Charter and other rules, including the IOC Guidelines on Athlete Expression "The governing body stated that he was offered a black armband instead, which Vladyslav Heraskevych refused. So, no competition for the athlete, but a heated debate.
This is what happens.
— Vladyslav Heraskevych OLY (@heraskevych) February 12, 2026
This is the price of our dignity. pic.twitter.com/00h3hlZs6i
The rule, and nothing but the rule.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry met with the athlete Thursday morning in Cortina d'Ampezzo. No one, and certainly not me, disagrees with the message. The message is powerful. she explains in a statement. It's a message of remembrance, of memory. It's not about the message itself, but about the rules. In this case, we must maintain a safe environment for everyone. And unfortunately, that means no messages are allowed. We could have found ways to pay tribute to his message, to his helmet, before his race. Unfortunately, we weren't able to find that solution. Heraskevych, whose story has been widely reported in the media, shared his bitterness on social media: I never wanted a scandal with the IOC, and I didn't create one. The IOC created it with its interpretation of the rules, which many see as discriminatory. »
"You are potentially opening Pandora's box."
Vladyslav Heraskevych received a great deal of support from both the sporting and political worlds. Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina stated that the IOC's decision would " contrary to the Olympic spirit and the fundamental values of respect and solidarity Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha was even more aggressive, calling the affair a " shame ". " The IOC intimidated, disrespected, and even lectured our athletes and other Ukrainians about how they should remain silent regarding “one of the 130 conflicts in the world.” If the Olympic credo states that the most important thing at the Olympic Games is not to win, but to participate, then the IOC has completely betrayed it by preventing Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing. »
This thorny affair is the first major obstacle for Kirsty Coventry since the start of her term. Michael Payne, former marketing director of the IOC, offered his take on the situation on X. Preserving the field of " Any message, political, social, or otherwise, is a fundamental principle of neutrality within the Olympic framework. Therefore, regardless of the IOC's sympathy for the Ukrainian cause, if you allow a message to be conveyed, you potentially open Pandora's box by setting a precedent. (...) If you allow this, what will happen at Los Angeles 2028 with Israel and Palestine? "Whatever its decision, the IOC will be under intense scrutiny." Condemned if he lets it happen, condemned if he doesn't do it "That sums it up," says Michael Payne. With the Fit for the Future consultation process in full swing, there's no doubt this topic will be the subject of in-depth discussions in the coming months.
