The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected Team GB’s skeleton helmet appeal

The British skeleton team – one of Team GB’s best hopes for medals at the Winter Olympics – will not be able to wear their new helmets because they do not adhere to the sport’s rules regarding shape.

The British team has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) to overturn the decision of the sport’s governing body – the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF).

But Cass says the helmet represents a departure from the standard helmet shape and was clearly designed specifically to enhance aerodynamic performance because the back of the helmet sticks out.

The British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association (BBSA) stressed that the helmet has been designed with safety in mind and complies with new safety regulations that the IBSF is set to introduce at the start of the 2026-27 season.

These rules do not apply at the Olympics, but the British skeleton essentially tried to get ahead of the curve by designing and using its new helmet in Italy.

The photo seen by BBC Sport shows that the helmet is facing backwards, and is similar in appearance to a cycling helmet.

“Based on the strength of the case we have put forward, it is understandable that we are disappointed in this matter,” said Natalie Dunman, executive performance director at BBSA. [the] resolution.

“However, this does not affect our final preparations, nor has the speech affected the athletes’ focus or optimism ahead of the Games.

“Our athletes have won medals all season, and throughout the Olympic cycle, with their current helmets, and we remain in a strong position to continue that trend.”

When asked about the helmet before the ruling, the Team GB skeleton racers said they had no preference for the helmet they used at the Olympics.

They arrive at the Games hot favorites for the medals with world champion and World Cup winner Matt Weston leading the charge to a gold medal while compatriot Marcus White is also looking to go well.

The British team wore helmets in a training session last week in Switzerland, with FIFA ruling out their use on January 29 before the BBSA appealed against the ban on Thursday.

Official skeleton training begins in Cortina on Monday, with the men’s event starting on February 12, while the women’s event begins on February 13 and the team event on February 15.