However, after an appeal, CAS backed the IOC, saying that although it was fully sympathetic to Heraskevych’s decision to commemorate his compatriots, the focus must be on the Olympic Games and other athletes.
Heraskevych said his helmet displayed only portraits and no political slogans, and that he was disqualified before the race, so he did not violate any rules.
“The court sided with the IOC and upheld a decision that an athlete could be disqualified from the Olympic Games without actual misconduct, without a technical or safety threat, and before the start,” Pronin Law Firm, representing Heraskevych, said in a statement after the decision.
“This case was much broader than an individual dispute. It concerned the freedom of expression of athletes, the limits of discretion of sports bodies, and the very understanding of Olympic values,” the firm added.
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