Ukrainian skeleton athlete Heraskevych's appeal denied by Court of Arbitration

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych lost an appeal of his disqualification from the Milan Cortina Olympics on Friday, yet already knew there was no pathway for him to compete in the race.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport denied the appeal, agreeing with the International Olympic Committee and the sliding sport's federation that Heraskevych's plan to wear a helmet showing the faces of more than 20 Ukrainian coaches and athletes killed since Russia invaded their country four years ago would be in violation of Olympic rules.

More to come.

This is a breaking news update. A previous version of the story is below.

Heraskevych, though, knows he won't be competing in these Olympics.

"Looks like this train has left," Heraskevych said in Milan on Friday.

His appeal lasted for about 2 1/2 hours and Heraskevych, draped in a Ukrainian flag, left the hearing smiling and saying he believes that CAS will rule in his favor. But he has left Cortina d'Ampezzo's Olympic Village already, has no plans to return to the mountains during these games and still believes he did the right thing.

"From Day 1, I told you that I think I'm right," Heraskevych said. "I don't have any regrets."

Meanwhile, his disqualification was justified because he insisted on bringing his messaging — a tribute helmet — onto the field of play, reiterated International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry.

Heraskevych planned to wear a helmet displaying the images of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches who have been killed since Russia invaded their country in 2022 was not in violation of the Olympic Charter.

"I never expected it to be such a big scandal," Heraskevych said, adding that the story only became big when the IOC, in his