To the Members of the International Olympic Committee, Leaders of National Olympic Committees, and the International Sporting Community:

Vladislav Heraskevych wished to compete wearing a "memory helmet" bearing portraits of Ukrainian athletes killed during Russia's war of aggression—weightlifter Alina Peregudova, boxer Pavlo Ishchenko, and hockey player Oleksiy Loginov. This was not a political statement but a solemn tribute to fallen comrades, a reminder of the ultimate price paid by those who represented the Olympic ideals of peace and unity.

Instead of honoring this dignified memorial, the IOC disqualified Heraskevych moments before his race, citing "violations" of athlete expression guidelines. Despite multiple meetings with IOC representatives—including former President Kirsty Coventry—no compromise was reached that would allow this Ukrainian athlete to honor his deceased teammates.

The IOC’s decision to penalize Ukrainian athletes while accommodating Russian aggression represents a profound moral bankruptcy. Under the leadership of Kirsty Coventry and the Executive Board, the Committee has traded Olympic ideals for bureaucratic cowardice, demonstrating a pattern of selective enforcement that fails to hold Russia accountable for repeated Olympic Truce violations. While Russian athletes compete under neutral status, the IOC disqualifies Ukrainians for honoring murdered colleagues — a move that disqualifies the Committee’s own reputation rather than the athlete.

Rule 50.2 is being weaponized to silence grief, proving that the IOC currently values protocols over human dignity. 

We therefore demand that the IOC Executive Board immediately revoke the disqualification of Vladislav Heraskevych, issue a formal apology to the families of fallen Ukrainian athletes, and request the resignation of President Kirsty Coventry.