The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday rejected an appeal by Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych against his disqualification from the Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee on Thursday blocked Heraskevych from performing at the Games for refusing to change his helmet, which depicted 22 Ukrainian athletes that Russia has killed during its war on Ukraine. The IOC said the helmet violated its guidelines on political messaging during the Games.

Heraskevych said his memorial act was not political and denied violating any rules. The IOC returned his accreditation to the Olympics, which are being held in Northern Italy, but still banned him from performing, despite a wave of support for Heraskevych from senior figures, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

However, after an appeal, CAS backed the IOC, saying that although it was fully sympathetic to Heraskevych’s decision to commemorate his compatriots, the focus must be on the Olympic Games and other athletes.

Heraskevych said his helmet displayed only portraits and no political slogans, and that he was disqualified before the race, so he did not violate any rules.

“The court sided with the IOC and upheld a decision that an athlete could be disqualified from the Olympic Games without actual misconduct, without a technical or safety threat, and before the start,” Pronin Law Firm, representing Heraskevych, said in a statement after the decision.

“This case was much broader than an individual dispute. It concerned the freedom of expression of athletes, the limits of discretion of sports bodies, and the very understanding of Olympic values,” the firm added.