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‘It looks like this train has left’

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Even before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) handed down its ruling on Friday, disqualified Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladislav Heraskevych appeared to concede defeat.

“It looks like this train has left,” the 27-year-old, draped in the Ukrainian flag, told reporters after emerging from a two-and-a-half-hour hearing in Milan.

“I cannot do another race so it is done.”

He said he had no plans to return to the sliding venue during these Winter Olympic Games but still felt he had done the right thing by trying to compete with a helmet adorned with portraits of Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia’s war on their country.

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At the same time though, Heraskevych appeared upbeat.

‘I hope truth will prevail’

“I’m really thankful for the opportunity to speak and we were treated equally at the hearing room and arguments were heard.

“We are waiting for the decisions, but as you see I look pretty happy so I’m pretty positive about how it went. I hope truth will prevail and still I know that I was innocent.”

The appeal was heard on Friday morning by an ad hoc division of the Swiss-based court, which had been set up in a Milan hotel to deal with Olympic appeals quickly.

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A statement issued by CAS prior to the hearing said that the skeleton racer was arguing that his disqualification was “disproportionate, unsupported by any technical or safety violation and causes irreparable sporting harm to him.”

Olympic Charter Rule 50

Heraskevych was prevented from competing in the men’s skeleton, which began on Thursday, due to a ruling by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the helmet he had intended to wear violated Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter. It states that: “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

The medals in men’s skeleton were to be awarded later on Friday.

The helmet in question bears the portraits of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes who have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago.

He had worn the helmet in his five training runs – each time placing among the top six.

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The IOC interpreted the depictions of the killed Ukrainian athletes as a political statement, something that the skeleton racer disputes.

“I am convinced that we are not breaking any rules. I also believe that we have had and continue to have this attention all these days because people understand that we are on the right side and have not broken any rules,” he said.

Solidarity from Ukrainian lugers, President Zelenskyy

The Ukrainian luge relay team expressed solidarity with Heraskevych during their competition on Thursday. In the finish area, the six athletes knelt together, held up their helmets, and shouted: “Vlad, we are with you, Ukraine, we stand with you.”

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Members of the Ukrainian mixed ​relay luge team raise their helmets in solidarity with Heraskevych
Members of the Ukrainian mixed ​relay luge team raised their helmets in solidarity with HeraskevychImage: Robert Michael/dpa/picture alliance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that he will award Heraskevych a medal of merit.

On the X platform, he sharply criticized the IOC, writing that “Sport shouldn’t mean amnesia, ​and ‌the Olympic movement should help stop wars, ‌not play into the ‌hands ​of aggressors.”

A group of around 40 members of the European Parliament have also sent an open letter to the IOC, calling on it to reconsider its decision.

IOC ‘open to everything’

Meanwhile, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry, who had personally delivered the news of Heraskevych’s ban to the athlete on Thursday, said there were no immediate plans to review the rules governing political expression.

“I have had a number of conversations with ‌athletes ​over the last couple of days. They still feel strongly that we should be able to keep part of our Olympic movement, and their Olympic experience, safe,” Coventry ‌told a Friday press conference.

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“If our athletes ​would like us to look at it (the rules), we are open to everything. But the rules are the rules as of today, and I believe they are good rules.

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Norway’s Klaebo ties Winter Olympic record with eighth gold medal

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CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo insists the 10-kilometre race is the distance he struggles with most because it forces him to race the clock instead of another competitor.

Funny, it didn’t look like it at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Friday.

The 29-year-old Norwegian star made his trademark late surge to win the interval-start race. His time of 20 minutes, 36.2 seconds gave him his eighth career gold medal, tying fellow countrymen Marit Bjoergen, Bjoern Daehlie and Ole Einar Bjoerndalen for the most ever at the Winter Olympics.

The all-time mark could soon be Klaebo’s alone. He’s scheduled to compete three more times at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium.

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On a warm day that left some skiers racing only in their bibs, Klaebo paced himself over the first half of the race before pouring it on late. The result was his third gold since arriving in Italy, and a small nod to the toll it’s taking. Klaebo fell into the snow shortly after crossing the finish line.

“It’s a special day,” Klaebo said. “This one means a lot for sure … I’m lost for words.”

Baff wins gold for Australia in snowboard cross

Snowboarder Josie Baff gave Australia its second gold medal of the Games when she stormed to victory in the women’s snowboard cross.

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The 23-year-old Baff, who finished a distant 18th in Beijing four years ago, beat Eva Adamczykova of the Czech Republic and Italy’s Michela Moioli to the finish line. Baff, the 2020 World Junior Champion, is currently the second-ranked racer in the world.

Cooper Woods earned Australia’s first gold in Italy by triumphing in men’s moguls earlier this week.

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Maria Sakkari stuns Swiatek to reach Doha Semifinal

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Maria Sakkari delivered one of the biggest wins of her career by defeating world No. 2 Iga Swiatek 2–6, 6–4, 7–5 to reach the semifinals of the Qatar Open.

The victory ended a difficult run for Sakkari, who had lost four straight matches and nine consecutive sets to Swiatek.

It was her first win over Swiatek since 2021, her first win over a world No. 2 since 2022, and her first WTA 1000 semifinal since Indian Wells 2024. She also became the first player ever to beat Swiatek at a WTA 1000 event after losing the opening set.

  • Elena Rybakina beats Zheng to reach Doha QuarterfinalsElena Rybakina beats Zheng to reach Doha Quarterfinals

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After dropping the first set, Sakkari found her rhythm in the second, closing it out 6–4 before holding her nerve in a tight deciding set to seal the upset.

Speaking after the match, Sakkari opened up about the mental struggle behind the result.

“I’m speechless because it’s been a while since I’ve had a big day like today. When you drop in the rankings and you’re not playing good tennis, you start doubting yourself. You’re thinking you’re never gonna beat those players again. It’s a huge process that you have to go through in your head that you can do it. Last year in the second round against her, I was not confident. I was not believing in myself. This year it’s different. I have to say I feel a lot better.”

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The win marks the 30th top-10 victory of Sakkari’s career and a major boost in confidence as she moves into the Doha semifinals.

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Ghost Golf Brush: Is it the new king of golf club brushes?

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Cam Newton makes his feelings known after Randy Moss calls for Hall of Fame voting committee to be reset

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Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s exclusion from the NFL Hall of Fame 2026 class has become a topic of discussion among former players and coaches.

Former Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss weighed in on Belichick and Kraft not making the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Moss said the voting process should only involve people from football.

“If you didn’t play it, if you didn’t coach it, you shouldn’t have a vote,” Moss said.

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Former Patriots quarterback Cam Newton discussed the Pro Football Hall of Famer’s comments on his “4th&1 With Cam Newton” podcast.

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“That ain’t right,” Newton said (Timestamp 1:05:00 onwards). “Because flip side, when we suffer a defeat, we have to talk to you… Bring all selection committees. Don’t matter if it’s the college football, committee. Doesn’t matter if the Hall of Fame committee, doesn’t matter if the All-American committee bring them all to the forefront.

“We live in a world of content. Somebody buy that right to showcase how they do it with juries… It was an ultimate sign of disgrace to not have those specific guys. I don’t care what Deflategate was. I don’t care if you think they cheated.”

Also Read: “How is this clown on TV” “He is just salty”: NFL fans rip Cam Newton for doubling down on “fool’s gold” take for Drake Maye

Also Read: “You guys got it wrong”: Rodney Harrison calls out Tony Dungy and Hall of Fame voters head-on for Bill Belichick’s first ballot snub

Cam Newton’s former Panthers teammate makes Hall of Fame case for ex-MVP

Cam Newton is one of the first-time eligibles on next year’s Hall of Fame ballot. Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, running back Adrian Peterson and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Former Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, made a case for Newton.

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“That’s what everybody needs to really think about (with) the Hall of Fame, Kuechly said. “And the dominance (with) which he played the game is what I think needs to be talked about the most. He was just so much better than everybody else on the field. There wasn’t much he couldn’t do.”