MILAN (ITALPRESS) – Vladyslav Heraskevych, Ukrainian skeleton athlete, will not participate in the Olympic Games of Milan Cortina 2026. To communicate it was the Cio, the athlete had declared in recent days of wanting to go down anyway on track with a commemorative helmet against athletes victims in Ukraine, despite the prohibition received to be able to use it both in race and in official workouts.
“The skeleton driver Vladylsav Heraskevych was not allowed to participate in Milan Cortina 2026 after having refused to adhere to the guidelines of the CIO on the expression of athletes – we read in an official note of Cio –. After having had a last opportunity, the Ukrainian skeleton pilot Vladylsav Heraskevych will not be able to kick off this morning at the Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina 2026. The decision was taken following its refusal to comply with the IOC Guidelines on the Visual Expression of the Athletes. The decision was taken by the jury of the International Federation of Bob and Skeleton (IBSF) according to the fact that the helmet he intended to wear was not in conformity with the regulation.
The International Olympic Committee (CIO) therefore decided with regret to withdraw its accreditation for the Milan Cortina 2026 Games. Despite the numerous exchanges and meetings in person between the CIO and Mr. Heraskevych, the last of which this morning with the President of the CIO Kirsty Coventry, the latter did not consider any form of compromise. The CIO was very interested in Mr. Heraskevych competing. For this reason, the CIO met with him to find the most respectful way to express his desire to remember his colleagues athletes who lost their lives following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The essence of this case is not in the message, but in the way he wanted to express it.”.
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
