Earlier this week, Ukrainian skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych was banned from the 2026 Winter Olympics because of a custom helmet honoring athletes and friends who were killed in his country’s war with Russia.

The IOC announced its decision to remove his accreditation before Heraskevych's first heats Thursday in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Ukrainian skeleton pilot Vladyslav Heraskevych was banned from competing at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Vladyslav Heraskevych, a skeleton athlete for Team Ukraine, was disqualified after refusing to change helmets at the Milan Cortina Games.

The cold wind whipping around in Cortina was not what would keep Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing in skeleton Thursday.

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych will not competeafter refusing a last-minute plea from the IOC to use a helmet other than the one that honors more than 20 of his country's athletes and coaches killed in the war with Russia.

Skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified for refusing to change his helmet from one that features the faces of athletes and coaches killed in Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine blamed a Russian disinformation campaign Thursday after fake news posted online about its Winter Olympics team, including a story criticising an athlete disqualified for trying to highlight war deaths.

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