Skeleton-Ukrainian Heraskevych disqualified for helmet depicting war dead

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 12 : Ukraine's skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was ejected from the Winter Games on Thursday over his "helmet of remembrance" depicting athletes killed since Russia's invasion despite a personal appeal from the International Olympic Committee head.

The 27-year-old, who had been training in Italy with the helmet showing two dozen dead compatriots, was barred and stripped of his accreditation minutes before competition was due to start at the sliding venue.

"I am disqualified from the race. I will not get my Olympic moment," said Heraskevych, who according to the IOC would have been in contravention of the Olympic Charter's rule 50.2 keeping politics off the fields of play.

"They were killed, but their voice is so loud that the IOC is afraid of them."

His team said they would appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry arrived in the early morning near the start gate and met with Heraskevych prior to the decision. She choked up with tears when telling reporters how she was unable to broker a solution.

"I thought it was really important to come here and talk to him face-to-face," she said after the meeting that lasted about 10 minutes. "No one, especially me, is disagreeing with the messaging, it's a powerful message, it's a message of remembrance, of memory."

The IOC had suggested compromises including wearing a black armband or showing the helmet before and after racing.

"Sadly we've not been able to find that solution. I really wanted to see him race. It's been an emotional morning," Coventry said. "It's literally about the rules and the regulations and that in this case... we have to be able to keep a safe environment for everyone and sadly, that