Global Rights Compliance (‘GRC’) expresses our profound concern at the International Olympic Committee’s (‘IOC’) decision to rescind Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych’s accreditation and ban him from competing in the skeleton competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games (’the Games’). This was purportedly based on Mr Heraskevych’s decision to wear a helmet featuring the images of some of the Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine.
The IOC has justified its actions by claiming that wearing the helmet during competition was “not compliant with the Olympic Charter, and other rules, in particular the IOC’s Guidelines on Athlete Expression”. This is purportedly premised on rules prohibiting any form of expression on the field of play.
However, the IOC’s stance sits at odds with its supposed application of its own rules in relation to other athletes, most notably Russian athletes. In violation of their so-called rules of participation, the IOC has allowed at least four athletes from Russia to compete at the Games despite their clear expressions of support for Russia’s invasion. Further, during competition, the IOC permitted Italian snowboarder Roland Fishnaller to wear a helmet adorned with the Russian flag, despite the flag being a banned symbol during the Games. Thus far, how the IOC interpreted these blatantly political expressions – indeed explicit support for fundemental violations of international law (as recognised by many, including the UN General Assembly) – as compliant with their own Charter, but not a gesture of rememberance by a Ukrainian for those killed, remains unexplained.
Beyond these apparent double standards, the IOC’s conduct towards Mr Heraskevych himself appears to show the confusion at the heart of its approach. Most notably, the IOC held that it would, conversely, allow Mr Heraskevych to compete while wearing a black armband in commemoration of those killed by Russia’s invasion. Why this is acceptable, but not photographs showing who is being commemorated, also remains unexplained. Clearly, the IOC’s position that all forms of expression are prohibited is not correct. In light of these and other contradictions, the IOC appears more concerned with policing its own discomfort (on a subjective and discriminatory basis), than maintaining consistency and a principled approach to freedom of expression.
The IOC President Kirsty Coventry’s claim that preventing Mr Heraskevych from wearing his helmet was necessary to “keep a safe environment for everyone” only serves to reinforce these suspicions. Clearly, these aims were not at the forefront of the IOC’s deliberations when deciding to turn a blind eye to Russian athletes’and Fishnaller’s celebration of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Quite rightly, Mr Heraskevych aims to challenge the IOC’s decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The IOC must explain their apparent unequal treatment of Mr Heraskevych, these contradictions, and why keeping a safe environment for Ukrainians – the victims of Russia’s agression and war crimes – would appear to have been a lower priority for the IOC. To those who may claim that politics should stay out of sport, this is not about politics. It is about the fact that the IOC is a business entity and as a matter of international law, they are obliged to respect human rights, including not causing, contributing or being linked to violations of human rights: favouring those who appear to support war crimes and disappearing the victims would appear to raise serious issues of compliance with these obligations.
“The IOC must respect human rights. Once more Russian athletes who have violated neutrality rules or supporters thereof are welcomed with open arms. At the very least, the IOC owes the world an explanation concerning why Russia and perpetrators are prioritised over Ukraine and its thousands of victims. More likely, the IOC needs serious policy changes in order to meaningfully meet its international human rights commitments.”
Wayne Jordash KC, President of GRC
“The Olympic Games are once again in danger of being overshadowed by the IOC’s inability to meaningfully respect its own low bar for supporting peace, solidarity, and human dignity. Once again Russian athletes who have violated neutrality rules are welcomed with open arms. Once again Ukrainian athletes are treated an obstacle to the long tradition of “sportswashing” Russia’s criminal conduct. The IOC’s incoherent application of rules on expression indicate that Heraskevych should not have been prohibited from competing with his helmet.”
Jeremy Pizzi, legal adviser at GRC
Photo: Vladyslav Heraskevych wearing a memorial helmet during a training session at the 2026 Olympic Games.
Suspilne Sport / Serhii Zakharchenko