The Olympic Committee (SOK) announced that Ukrainian skeleton athlete Heraskevich is barred from participating in the upcoming 2026 Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina because he refused to adhere to the SOK's athlete conduct guidelines. After initial training sessions, the SOK prohibited him from wearing a helmet adorned with images of killed Ukrainians. Despite this, Heraskevich continued to wear the helmet, leading to the Committee's decision that he could not compete with it, although he would be allowed to wear a black armband to honor those depicted on his helmet.

The SOK based its decision on the Olympic Charter which prohibits any form of demonstration or political, religious, or racial propaganda in the Olympic venues. Heraskevich disagreed with this justification, asserting that the images on his helmet did not violate the SOK's stipulations. He has expressed his intention to wear the helmet in competition, defying the SOK's ruling just one day before the competition, which shows his determination to stand by his beliefs despite the consequences.

This incident highlights the ongoing contentious relationship between politics and sports, particularly in international forums like the Olympics. As athletes strive to express their identities and causes, they often find themselves caught in a complex web of regulations and cultural sensitivities. The response from the SOK may set a precedent for future cases in which athletes wish to make political statements through their attire, forcing a dialogue about the balance between personal expression and adherence to governing rules in competitive sports.