"This is price of our dignity," skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych wrote on X after the IOC's annoucement of his disqualification.

Editor’s note: The story is being updated.

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified before his first run at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy on Feb. 12, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced.

The move followed an IOC decision banning Heraskevysch from using a custom helmet at the Olympics that honors Ukrainian athletes killed during Russia’s full-scale war. Despite this, Heraskevych continued training in the helmet, criticizing the IOC for hypocrisy.

“This is price of our dignity,” Heraskevysch wrote on X after the IOC’s annoucement of his disqualification.

The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) jury ruled that Heraskevych’s helmet “was not in compliance with the rules.”

Read also: ‘Remembrance is not a violation’ — third Ukrainian athlete barred from wearing helmet at Olympics

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