The Latvian Olympic Committee (LOK) and the Lithuanian Olympic Committee (LTOK) have reached out to the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) for further clarification on the recent ruling that disqualified Ukrainian athlete Vladislav Heraskevič from the men's skeleton events at the Winter Olympics. This decision was made based on a ruling from the IBSF's jury, which deemed that Heraskevič's choice of wearing a helmet in memory of fallen athletes contradicted the Olympic Charter and the guidelines for athlete expression.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) supported the disqualification by referencing the verdict from the IBSF jury, which did not specify the precise rules that were violated but highlighted that athletes are required to adhere to the Olympic Charter and the governing rules of their respective federations. This lack of specificity has raised concerns from the Latvian and Lithuanian Olympic Committees, who believe that the decision merits a thorough examination to ensure fairness in the implementation of the rules.

LOK president Raimonds Lazdiņš expressed respect for the IBSF's authority in upholding compliance with the Olympic Charter while stressing the importance of clear evaluation of this particular decision. The situation illustrates the challenges surrounding athlete expression within the context of strict regulatory frameworks in Olympic sports, particularly how gestures meant to honor others can be interpreted as violations of established norms.