Zelenskyy responds to Olympic scandal with new sports sanctions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Office of the President of Ukraine)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced a new package of sports sanctions following the suspension of skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Ukraine's leader said that a sanctions document has been prepared targeting Russian individuals who serve the war and put sport at the service of war.
"This Ukrainian sanctions package is meant to send a signal to the world: you cannot simply turn a blind eye to support for aggression. When Ukrainians are forbidden at the Olympics even from mentioning the victims of Russian aggression, this is clearly a global departure from justice," Zelenskyy said.
The president promised that Ukraine would restore justice and reiterated that the sanctions document is ready.
Heraskevych's disqualification
Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was barred from competition just 45 minutes before his start at the 2026 Olympics. The reason was his helmet featuring images of Ukrainian athletes who were killed.
The International Olympic Committee said the equipment allegedly violated the Olympic Charter's rules on neutrality, which prohibit political or other messages during competition.
Following the suspension, Heraskevych appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The hearing took place on February 13, but the court upheld the IOC's decision.
On February 14 in Munich, Zelenskyy met with Heraskevych and his father, Mykhailo Heraskevych, the coach of Ukraine's skeleton team. The president awarded the athlete the Order of Freedom and thanked him for taking a principled stand.
