- Title: IOC defends decision to disqualify Heraskevych - 'It's not about the message'
- Date: 12th February 2026
- Summary: MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 12, 2026) (REUTERS) INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) SPOKESPERSON, MARK ADAMS, ARRIVING AT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH OLYMPIC GAMES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHRISTOPHE DUBI, IOC HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY, JULIE DUFFUS, MILANO CORTINA 2026 GAMES OPERATIONS COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, LUCA CASASSA, AND, MILANO CORTINA 2026 SUSTAINABILITY AND IMPACT DIRECTOR, GLOR
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: IOC IOC Spokesperson Mark Adams Milano Cortina Russia Ukraine Vladyslav Heraskevych Winter Olympics
- Location: MILAN, ITALY
- City: MILAN, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Europe,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001488112022026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has defended its decision to eject skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from the Milano Cortina Winter Games on Thursday (February 12) over his "helmet of remembrance" depicting athletes killed since Russia's invasion.
"If we allow one athlete this expression... it will lead to chaos," IOC spokesperson Mark Adams told a press conference.
"With 130 conflicts in the world it will create a field of play which becomes a field of expression," Adams added.
Despite an emotional appeal from the IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who met Herakevych near the start gate at the Cortina Sliding Centre where he was set to compete, they were unable to broker a solution.
The IOC had suggested compromises including wearing a black armband or showing the helmet before and after racing.
"It's not about the message; it's about the place," Adams explained, detailing how athletes were free to express themselves in mixed zone interviews, press conferences and on social media, but that the rules were designed through consultation with athletes themselves to protect the integrity of the sporting arena.
It is not the first time the IOC has sanctioned an athlete for a political message.
The most famous case was at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City when U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised black-gloved fists during the 200m medal ceremony to protest about racial injustice in the United States.
That led to their expulsion from the Games, although Smith kept his gold medal and Carlos his bronze.
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