Ukrainian skeleton athlete's DQ appeal denied by CAS - ESPN

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych lost an appeal of his disqualification from the Milan Cortina Olympics on Friday.

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.

The slider knew it would have been virtually impossible to compete at these Olympics even if he had won his case. «Looks like this train has left,» Heraskevych said in Milan on Friday following a 2½-hour appeal hearing.

CAS, in a brief statement, said the sole arbitrator who heard the case had no choice but to side with IOC policy about what athletes at an Olympics can say on a field of play and that the «memory helmet» Heraskevych brought to the Milan Cortina Games would not align with the rules athletes have to follow.

The arbitrator, CAS said, «found these limitations reasonable and proportionate, considering the other opportunities for athletes to raise awareness in mixed zones, in press conferences, on social networks, or in Mr. Heraskevych's case, wearing the helmet during four training runs.»

Heraskevych had said he felt his disqualification was unfair and fed into Russian propaganda, noting that he and other Ukrainian athletes have seen Russian flags at events at these Games even though they are not allowed and highlighting other tributes from athletes at these Olympics.

The IOC had offered Heraskevych the chance to bring his helmet through the interview area, called a mixed zone, after he got off the ice for his runs or make other tributes such as