Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych has been banned from wearing a helmet featuring images of people killed during the Russian invasion of his home country at the Winter Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the helmet broke the rules laid down in the Olympic Charter, but he will be allowed to wear a black armband in remembrance of those who have lost their lives.
Heraskevych, who wore the helmet during a training session in Cortina, said the decision "breaks my heart".
The 26-year-old told Reuters many of those pictured on his 'helmet of remembrance' were athletes, including teenage weightlifter Alina Peregudova, boxer Pavlo Ishchenko and ice hockey player Oleksiy Loginov, and some of them were his friends.
Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter states "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas".
"We have addressed from the beginning the issue, the IOC fully understands the desire of athletes to remember those who have lost their lives in that conflict and other conflicts around the world," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said.
"We have to focus on athlete performance and sport, and it is fundamental there are equal rights for all athletes, and keep it free from all interference.
"What we have said is that this helmet contravenes the above mentioned guidelines. We will however allow him to wear a black armband during competition. He has expressed himself on social media, but we feel this is a good compromise."
