A Ukrainian skeleton athlete has accused Olympic bosses of ‘betrayal’ after he was banned from wearing a helmet that depicts images of compatriots killed since the Russian invasion in 2022. Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was nation’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony last week, trained in the evocative helmet on Monday, disclosing that ‘some of them were my friends’. Heraskevych has now disclosed that an International Olympic Committee official visited him at the athletes’ village to inform him that he is in breach of Games rules around political statements.

‘The IOC has banned the use of my helmet at official training sessions and competitions,’ said Heraskevych on Instagram. ‘A decision that simply breaks my heart. The feeling that the IOC is betraying those athletes who were part of the Olympic movement, not allowing them to be honoured on the sports arena where these athletes will never be able to step again. ‘Despite precedents in modern times and in the past when the IOC allowed such tributes, this time they decided to set special rules just for Ukraine.’ Heraskevych’s helmet shows the teenage weightlifter Alina Perehudova, powerlifter Pavlo Ischenko, ice hockey player Oleksiy Loginov, actor and athlete Ivan Kononenko, diving athlete and coach Mykyta Kozubenko, shooter Oleksiy Habarov and dancer Daria Kurdel.

The Ukrainians have appealed against the helmet ban, but on Tuesday the IOC pointed to rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter, which states: ‘No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.’ They have instead allowed Heraskevych to race in a black armband and will not object to him speaking out in press conferences. Heraskevych has previously used the Games environment to protest against the invasion, which included holding a ‘No War In Ukraine’ sign at Beijing 2022, just days before the Russian offensive began.

The 26-year-old reposted that image on X on Tuesday, with the comment: ‘Four years ago at the 2022 Olympic Games. Unfortunately, over these years this call for peace has only become even more relevant. ‘Also over these four years, the IOC has changed dramatically. Back then, in that action, they saw a call for peace and did not apply any sanctions against me. Now, at the Olympics, we have already seen a large number of Russian flags in the stands, on the helmet of one of the athletes - and for the IOC, this is not a violation.

‘Yet a violation was found in the “helmet of memory”, which pays tribute to members of the Ukrainian sports family who have been killed since the last Olympic Games were held. The truth is on our side. I hope for a fair final decision from the IOC.’ The IOC has already come under the microscope here for what has been interpreted as softening stance on Russia, with IOC president Kirsty Coventry hinting that they could soon have their exile lifted. At these Games, there are 13 Russians and seven Belarussians competing as ‘neutral’ athletes.

The advocacy group Global Athlete posted an open letter on Monday to criticise the IOC’s position on Russia. They wrote: ‘Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has only intensified since 2022. The fact that the IOC is easing restrictions against Russia suggests that even under the new presidency of Kirsty Coventry, it remains influenced by the very political forces it claims to stand apart from.’