Ukrainian Olympian pushes for sanctions from IOC, IPC for Russia, Belarus for invasion

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych is pushing for sanctions to be handed down to the Russian and Belarusian Olympic and Paralympic Committees for Russia's attacks on his home country.

Facilitated by advocacy group Global Athlete, an open letter was released on behalf of Ukrainian athletes, to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for both to be suspended, with that including the two countries being banned from the upcoming Paralympics in Beijing.

The 23-year-old, who is currently in Zhitomir, Ukraine, outside of his hometown of Kyiv, feels as though it's only fitting they are handed strict consequences.

"[The] Russian invasion of Ukraine with Belarusian support, it's a very big breach of [the] Olympic and Paralympic charters," he told CBC News on Sunday. "This breach must get some sanctions. These Olympic committees should get some sanctions and strong sanctions.

"I got a lot of support in our statement about [the] Russian Olympic Committee and Belarusian Olympic Committee. Also, a lot of foreign athletes support us."

WATCH | Ukrainian Olympian urges IPC to ban Russian athletes from upcoming Paralympics:

The letter, which was released Sunday, has hundreds of signatures in support of it, including Canadian Olympians Hayley Wickenheiser, Jennifer Casson, and Andrea Proske.

4x Olympian ice hockey champion and former IOC athlete commission member <a href="https://twitter.com/wick_22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wick_22</a> and Canadian Olympians @AndreaProskesigns, <a href="https://twitter.com/jjcasson123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jjcasson123</a> most recent athletes to sign in support of Ukrainian Athletes.<br><br>Olympians and Paralympians add your name by emailing: