Court of Arbitration for Sport rejects the appeal of the Ukrainian athlete against his exclusion for not renouncing his helmet

Madrid (EFE).- The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected this Friday the claim of Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych against his exclusion from the Milan Cortina 2026 Games for wanting to compete with images on his helmet of athletes from his country killed in the war with Russia.

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The CAS confirmed the decision to dismiss Heraskevych's appeal against the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and explained that although the sole arbitrator who studied the case "fully sympathizes with Mr. Heraskevych's commemoration, with his attempt to raise awareness about the pain and devastation suffered by the Ukrainian people and athletes due to the war, she is obliged to comply with the IOC regulations.

Following the hearing held on this day to hear the arguments and examine the Guidelines on Athlete Expression, it concluded that "these establish that freedom of expression is a fundamental right of any athlete competing in the Olympic Games, but limit the right to express opinions during competitions on the field of play".

In the opinion of the sole arbitrator responsible for the case, "these Guidelines provide a reasonable balance between the athletes' interest in expressing their views and their interest in receiving exclusive attention to their sporting performance on the field of play." According to their consideration, "these limitations are reasonable and proportionate, taking into account the other opportunities athletes have to raise awareness (in mixed zones, press conferences, social media or, in the case of Mr. Heraskevych, the use of the helmet during four training sessions)." "The sole arbitrator notes that the objective of this is to keep the focus of the Olympic Games on performance and sport, a common interest of all athletes who have worked for years to appear in the Games and who deserve undivided attention for their achievements and sporting performance," the resolution indicates. The ruling states that "the sole arbitrator is bound by such provided rules and has no means to override them", although, in their opinion, "it was unfair to withdraw Mr. Heraskevych's accreditation in these circumstances and supports the IOC's decision to return it". The CAS resolved the case in an urgent procedure after registering on Thursday afternoon the appeal of Ukrainian Vladyslav Heraskevych against his disqualification, for wanting to compete with a helmet with images of athletes from his country killed in the war with Russia, an attitude incompatible with the Olympic Charter and the IOC regulations, which prohibits expressions of a political nature in official events.

Heraskevych: "I don't regret defending my dignity"

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych declared this Friday that he continues with the "fight" for his truth and that he does not regret "defending" his dignity after his hearing with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), an entity to which he filed an appeal for his disqualification from the Games for not renouncing the use of the helmet with photographs of athletes killed by Russia in the war in his country. «I don't think I've broken any rules, therefore I shouldn't be suspended,» he said before entering a hearing that lasted just over two hours and to which he attended carrying a Ukrainian flag on his shoulders. "I should be at the Games today competing and not part of a hearing with the CAS. We continue the fight, the fight for our truth. I am convinced," he added. At the end of the hearing, the Ukrainian assured that he was on the right side of the situation.

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"It would be very strange to regret defending your rights. From day one I said that I believe I am right in this situation. And of course I do not regret defending my dignity," he pointed out.

Conversation with Coventry

Heraskevych, 27, wore the protection in the two training sessions held on Tuesday and Wednesday, which led the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to point out that he was violating the Olympic rules and to warn him that he could not use it in the official competition. For her part, the IOC president, Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry, commented that she understands "both sides", but that Olympic sport has to remain neutral. "My conversation with him and his father yesterday was a very good, very respectful conversation. It was a moment in which we spoke as athletes, it is really important for me and I think for him to share how everything has developed," he explained at a press conference in Milan. "I understand both sides and how athletes want a space to express themselves, but also that they want to be protected. He understood it, but he is committed to his ideas. I can respect it, but sadly the rules haven't changed and are that competition venues, ceremonies and the Olympic village must be safe spaces for athletes, without messages of any kind," he added.

Coventry eliminates the possibility of retaking the skeleton test

Coventry, in addition to hinting that the resolution of the appeal "will arrive soon", eliminated the possibility of repeating the skeleton test. "We have to wait for the outcome of the appeal to the CAS, of course, and there are several procedures that must be followed. I think it's a bit pointless to speculate and raise all kinds of hypotheses now," he said. And he pointed out that he was given the opportunity to wear the helmet in other spaces, he was only banned during the competition. "At no time have we wanted to prevent the athlete from spreading his message. We only wanted him to do so at the times when it is allowed, not during the competition. Unfortunately, although we wanted to give him the opportunity to compete, he did not comply with the rules," he stated.