Heraskevych’s disqualification marks yet another victory handed to Russia by the IOC. It’s also the latest example of how the IOC’s uneven application of its own rules on expression gives it a great deal of leeway in deciding what is and isn’t appropriate behavior for Olympic athletes.

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych said on Monday a helmet he has used in training at the Milano Cortina Games with images of compatriots killed during the war in Ukraine cannot be used in Olympic competition after being told by the IOC that it violates a rule on political statements.

A Ukrainian skeleton racer has been disqualified from the Winter Olympics over his “helmet of remembrance."

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, ITALY, Feb 9 - Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych trained on Monday at the Milano Cortina Games in a helmet with images of compatriots killed during the war in Ukraine,

Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Olympic skeleton competition on Thursday over his helmet of remembrance depicting athletes killed since Russia's invasion despite a last-minute appeal from a tearful IOC president.