IOC BANS HELMET HONOURING UKRAINE’S WAR DEAD AT OLYMPICS

Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych will not be allowed to wear a "helmet of remembrance" in honour of those killed in the war with Russia in the skeleton competition at the Winter Games, the International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday, adding that it would allow the Ukrainian flag bearer to wear a black armband instead.

Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych's wore the helmet during a training session in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 9, 2026. © Franck Fife, AFP

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday said Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych could wear a black armband at the Winter Olympics instead of a banned helmet that features Ukrainians killed in the war with Russia.

Spokesperson Mark Adams said the helmet contravened IOC guidelines about political symbols but said it would "make an exception to the guidelines to allow him to wear a black armband during competition to make that commemoration".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier defended the Olympian's right to wear a helmet featuring athletes killed during the war with Russia, thanking him in a post on X.

"I thank the flag bearer of our national team at the Winter Olympics, Vladyslav Heraskevych, for reminding the world of the price of our struggle," Zelensky said on X.

"This truth cannot be inconvenient, inappropriate or called a 'political demonstration at a sporting event.' It is a reminder to the entire world of what modern Russia is," the president added.

Heraskevych wore the helmet during a training session in Cortina and had intended to use the Games in Italy to help maintain international pressure on Russia.

The 27-year-old said in a social media post on Monday that the International Olympic Committee had banned his custom helmet from training and competition.

Heraskevych, who was Ukraine's flag bearer, said the decision "simply breaks my heart".

Gestures of a political nature on the medal podium have been forbidden since 2021 under article 50 of the Olympic Charter but athletes are permitted to express their views in press conferences and on social media.

Ukrainian Sports Minister Matviy Bidnyi told AFP this month that Russia has killed "more than 650 athletes and coaches", according to the latest data.

In various social media videos, Heraskevych has said the images represent only a fraction of the athletes killed since the full‑scale invasion and include Olympians and Youth Olympic medallists, such as his former teammate, figure skater Dmytro Sharpar.

At the head of a delegation of 46 athletes, Heraskevych marched in Milan last week as his country's flag bearer at the opening ceremony, alongside speed skater Yelyzaveta Sydorko.

He will be competing at his third Winter Games.

- FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters

OLEKSANDR USYK DETAINED IM POLAND; ZELENSKY AIDS IN RELEASE

Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk was detained Tuesday at Krakow Airport in Poland and subsequently released after Ukraine's Foreign Ministry intervened, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on social media.

A source told ESPN that Usyk, a native of Ukraine, was detained after he attempted to board a flight to Valencia, Spain, where he is set to begin preparations for his Dec. 21 heavyweight championship rematch with Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Usyk and his trainer, Sergey Lapin, were denied boarding after an airline official determined they were not fit to travel, a source said.

According to a source, Usyk explained that they were fine to fly and were simply exhausted from a nearly 14-hour travel day from Kyiv, the capital of war-torn Ukraine, that included a 557-mile drive. Between the language barrier and Usyk being adamant that they were not impaired in any way, he was detained.

Usyk's wife, Katheryna, was traveling with Usyk and Lapin. She posted a video on social media that showed Usyk being led away in handcuffs on the jet bridge. She said the matter was "nothing criminal."

"A misunderstanding took place," Usyk wrote on social media. "It was quickly resolved. Thanks to all who got concerned. Thanks to Ukrainian diplomats for the efficient support. And respect to Polish Police for conducting their obligations with no regards to height, weight, reach and regalia."

Zelensky wrote on social media that he spoke with Usyk after he was detained. His post included a photo of Usyk alongside a Ukrainian official.

"I was disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion," Zelensky wrote in his post. "I instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, to immediately look into all the details of the incident at Krakow airport.

"Now, everything is fine, our champion has been released, and he is no longer being detained."

Usyk, 37, is ESPN's No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer. The Olympic gold medalist defeated Fury in May via decision to become boxing's first undisputed heavyweight champion since 2002. Usyk is expected to be ringside in London on Saturday for Anthony Joshua's title fight against Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium. Usyk defeated Joshua to become unified champion in 2021 and again in the rematch one year later.

- Mike Coppinger, ESPN Boxing Insider