Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, a likely medal contender was not allowed to compete Thursday after refusing a last-minute plea from the International Olympic Committee.
The decision came roughly 45 minutes before the start of the competition, ending a three-day saga where Heraskevych knew he was risking being pulled from the Games by wearing the helmet — one that the IOC says bans rules against making statements on the field of play — in training and vowing to do so again in the race.
He received written word Thursday from the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, which said his decision to wear the helmet was "inconsistent with the Olympic Charter and Guidelines on Athlete Expression." The IOC asked — pleaded might be the better word — for him to wear a different helmet for races and offered concessions such as the right to wear a black armband or even the ability to display the helmet once he was off the ice.