The International Olympic Committee decides to suspend Ukrainian pilot Vladislav Heraskevich over the “remembrance helmet”

Ukrainian pilot Vladislav Heraskevich has been banned from competing in the Winter Olympics for continuing to wear a helmet with images of athletes killed during the Russian invasion of his homeland.

The International Olympic Committee on Tuesday informed Heraskiewicz, who wore the helmet for all of his training runs before the start of competition on Thursday, that it “does not comply” with the Olympic Charter and said he is not permitted to wear it.

But he wore the helmet again on Wednesday during official training, telling BBC Sport he believes he has “all the rights” to wear it.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry visited the 26-year-old on the Cortina sliding track before the first structure heat on Thursday and the IOC said Heraskiewicz “did not contemplate any form of settlement”.

The IOC added in a statement: “The IOC was very keen to have Mr Heraskevich participate in the competition. That is why I sat down with him to seek the most respectful way to address his wish to remember his fellow athletes who lost their lives following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

The IOC said Heraskiewicz can honor fallen athletes by wearing a black armband during competition and can show off his helmet in mixed zones, press conferences and on social media, but “the field of play is sacred.”

They have expressed their desire to stop wearing the helmet, saying they will “beg” – because they want him to compete.

Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter states: “No political, religious or racist demonstrations or propaganda of any kind are permitted on any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

But Heraskevich believes his tribute is no different from those shown by other athletes — such as figure skater Maxim Naumov, who held up a photo of his parents, who were among 67 people killed in a plane crash in Washington, D.C., as he waited for his score to be announced Tuesday.