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Article written by Avalon Stewart, Feb 12th 2026
A Day of Dismissals
Ukrainian Skeleton Slider Disqualified
The International Olympic Committee said in a statement early today that skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, the Ukrainian flag bearer, was "not allowed to participate at Milano Cortina 2026 after refusing to adhere to the IOC athlete expression guidelines". The decision came roughly 45 minutes before the start of the competition and ended a three-day saga where Heraskevych knew he was risking being pulled from the Games by wearing the helmet, one that the IOC says breaks rules against making statements on the field of play. He said he was already in the venue and had set up his sled for his race when he was notified he was being disqualified.
Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych is seen during the Men's Skeleton Training at the Cortina Sliding Center, on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy on Feb. 9, 2026.\
In a statement, the IOC said, “The decision followed his refusal to comply with the IOC’s Guidelines on Athlete Expression. It was taken by the jury of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) based on the fact that the helmet he intended to wear was not compliant with the rules”.
Vladyslav Heraskevych has accused the International Olympic Committee of doing Russia’s propaganda for them after he was barred from racing in the Winter Games because he wanted to wear a “helmet of memory” in honour of Ukraine’s war dead. Heraskevych filed an application today with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, an independent body, challenging the decision by the federation jury.
Credit : Robert Michael/picture alliance via Getty
Among those showing solidarity with the athlete were a lot of Ukrainian soldiers, taking support photos on the front line. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X: “The Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play into the hands of aggressors. No rule has been broken”. The European Union Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, said she was angry and disappointed when she learned about the Ukrainian athlete being excluded. Zelensky later awarded Heraskevych Ukraine’s highest civilian honor, the Order of Freedom, for “his dedicated service to the Ukrainian people, civic courage, and patriotism in defending the ideals of freedom and democratic values.”
The night before Heraskevych was disqualified, Russia launched another massive attack on the power grid.
EPA Rejection
Nearly 17 years after the Environmental Protection Agency declared that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases threaten the public’s health and welfare, the agency today rescinded the landmark legal opinion strengthening a wave of federal policies aimed at climate change. President Donald Trump called the decision “the single largest deregulatory action in American history.” He added, “And I think we can add the words, ‘by far.’”. The action is a key step in removing limits on carbon dioxide, methane and four other greenhouse gases that scientists say are supercharging heat waves, droughts, wildfires and other extreme weather.
President Donald Trump during a White House event with Environmental Protection Agency director Lee Zeldin announcing that the EPA will no longer regulate greenhouse gases. Evan Vucci / AP
First issued in 2009, the endangerment finding determined that six greenhouse gases could be categorized as dangerous to human health under the Clean Air Act. It has underpinned the EPA’s authority to limit planet-warming pollution from the oil and gas industry, power plants and vehicles since the Obama administration and is considered the federal government’s most powerful tool to tackle climate pollution and the country’s contribution to the global crisis.
It’s a rejection of fact that had been accepted for decades by presidents of both parties, including Richard Nixon, whose top adviser warned of the dangers of climate change, and the first President George Bush, who signed an international climate treaty.
Jeff Holmstead, a partner at the law and lobbying firm Bracewell who served as head of the EPA’s air office under President George W. Bush said that for now, the only immediate legal impact will be the elimination of greenhouse gas standards on the nation’s cars and trucks, which Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin also claimed today. The administration claimed it would save auto manufacturers and other businesses an estimated $1 trillion, although it has not explained how it arrived at that estimate.
Environmental groups said the plan would keep polluting, gas-burning cars and trucks on U.S. roads for years to come, threatening the health of millions of Americans, particularly children and the elderly.
Avalon Stewart
Avalon Stewart
Avalon is from Mount Vernon, Washington. She is a Freshman at Whitman College and plans to major in Psychology and Politics. In high school she competed in Speech and Debate all four years and even was state champ in Congressional Debate. She is passionate about politics and the process of delivering news that people can trust.
Lead editor for The Lamplight
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