Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych has been disqualified before his first run at the 2026 Olympic Games.

According to reports from Suspilne Sport, Heraskevych planned to compete in the first run of the 'Helmet of Remembrance', but the event took place without him.

The day before, the IOC prohibited Heraskevych from competing in the 'Helmet of Remembrance', leading to the threat of disqualification.

On the day of the competition, the athlete published a statement on his Instagram regarding the recent events related to the 'Helmet of Remembrance'.

“I never intended to create a scandal with the IOC, nor did I initiate it. The IOC's interpretation of the rules is seen by many as discriminatory.

While the IOC's actions have raised awareness about fallen Ukrainian athletes, the scandal diverts significant attention away from the competitions and the athletes involved. Therefore, I once again propose to end this controversy.

I ask for:

1. The lifting of the ban on the use of the 'Helmet of Remembrance'.

2. An apology for the pressure exerted on me over the past few days.

3. In solidarity with Ukrainian sports, to provide generators for Ukrainian sports facilities suffering from shelling.

I sincerely hope for a response before the skeleton competitions begin,” the athlete wrote.