sports

Ukraine Skeleton Racer Given $200,000 After Olympic Ban

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych has received a $200,000 donation from Shakhtar Donetsk owner after being banned from the Winter Olympics for wearing a helmet honoring fallen Ukrainian athletes.

The 27-year-old athlete was disqualified before competing at the Milano Cortina Winter Games when the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation ruled that the imagery on his helmet—depicting athletes killed since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022—breached rules on athletes' expression at the Games.

The donation from the football club equals the prize money Ukraine pays to gold medal winners.