Ukrainian skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych has been disqualified from the Winter Olympics after wearing a helmet bearing images of fellow athletes who died during the war with Russia.

Skeleton is a winter sport in which competitors lie face down and headfirst on a small sledge, racing at high speeds down an icy track. The sport takes its name from the sled’s ribcage-like frame.

According to BBC, Heraskevych appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after he was removed from the competition on Thursday, shortly before his first race.

He had worn the helmet during practice earlier in the week, despite officials saying it breached Olympic regulations.

The head of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry, met him at the track in a final attempt to persuade him not to wear it during competition.

Heraskevych declined, insisting the helmet was permitted under the rules.

The sports court convened an emergency hearing on Friday and dismissed his appeal.

“The sole arbitrator considers these guidelines provide a reasonable balance between athletes’ interests to express their views, and athletes’ interests to receive undivided attention for their sporting performance on the field of play,” CAS said in a statement.

Heraskevych said the helmet featured photos of more than 20 athletes, including teenage weightlifter Alina Perehudova, boxer Pavlo Ishchenko and ice hockey player Oleksiy Lohinov.

He told the BBC that some were his friends who were killed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Following the failed appeal, the 26-year-old was awarded the Order of Freedom by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

According to the Guardian, Zelenskyy said, “Remembrance is not a violation. Ukraine will always have champions and Olympians. But above all, Ukraine’s greatest asset is Ukrainians… Thank you for your stance, your strength, and your courage. Glory to Ukraine.”

Social media users expressed mixed reactions, with some praising his stance and others questioning the decision.