Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych has announced that his team plans to take legal action after the International Olympic Committee disqualified him. The athlete has described the decision as a “pro-Russian game," as per UkrInform.
The IOC disqualified Heraskevych ahead of the Winter Olympics after he appeared at the start wearing a helmet featuring portraits of 24 Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia. The decision sparked global outrage, from athletes to Hollywood celebrities, including Ben Stiller and Quentin Tarantino.
Russia has killed at least 644 members of the Ukrainian sports community, injured 20, detained 20, and 13 are considered missing.
At least 799 sports facilities have been affected by strikes, of which 180 were completely destroyed. Belarus has also actively assisted Russia in committing these crimes.
Skeleton racer emphasizes the right of fallen athletes to be remembered
Heraskevych says he will continue his fight, as he is convinced these athletes have the right to be on his helmet. They had the right to be there during the competition, he continues, and they will be there again in the future.
“Even if the IOC has betrayed them, I will not betray them," he claims.
Legal pathway: CAS and the Swiss Federal Court
Sports lawyer and former acting president of the Ukrainian Athletics Federation, Yevhen Pronin, has reminded that the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Heraskevych’s appeal against the IOC on 13 February.
Ukraine has 30 days to respond legally, including the option to appeal to the Swiss Federal Court. Pronin added that they "have a team of European lawyers ready to assist."
Exposing IOC backstage and international support for Ukraine
Heraskevych notes that the case revealed the IOC's behind-the-scenes pro-Russian bias. He has also expressed gratitude for international support.
“I’m very glad many countries did not stand aside but spoke up for Ukraine. Many athletes wrote and spoke about this in interviews," the athlete says.
The athlete concludes that now "the whole world has seen how the IOC system plays into Russia’s hands.”
