An IOC official subsequently visited Heraskevych at the athletes’ village to notify him that the helmet breaches Games regulations concerning political statements.

“A decision that simply breaks my heart,” Heraskevych wrote on Instagram.

“The feeling that the IOC is betraying those athletes who were part of the Olympic movement, not allowing them to be honoured on the sports arena where these athletes will never be able to step again.”

The helmet features images of seven members of Ukraine’s sporting community who lost their lives following the invasion: teenage weightlifter Alina Perehudova, boxer Pavlo Ischenko, ice hockey player Oleksiy Loginov, actor and athlete Ivan Kononenko, diving athlete and coach Mykyta Kozubenko, shooter Oleksiy Habarov, and dancer Daria Kurdel.

According to Heraskevych, Olympic officials justified the prohibition by invoking rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits “any kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda” across all Olympic sites and venues.

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The IOC has yet to issue a public response to the controversy.

Heraskevych expressed frustration at what he perceives as inconsistent application of the rules, stating: “Despite precedents in modern times and in the past when the IOC allowed such tributes, this time they decided to set special rules just for Ukraine.”

Ukraine has lodged an appeal against the helmet ban.

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Heraskevych drew a pointed comparison between the IOC’s treatment of his tribute and the presence of Russian symbols at the Games.

Reposting an image on X from his 2022 Beijing protest, where he held a “No War In Ukraine” sign days before the invasion commenced, he noted the organisation’s shifting approach.

“Back then, in that action, they saw a call for peace and did not apply any sanctions against me,” he wrote.

“Now, at the Olympics, we have already seen a large number of Russian flags in the stands, on the helmet of one of the athletes – and for the IOC, this is not a violation.”

He added: “The truth is on our side. I hope for a fair final decision from the IOC.”

The IOC has faced mounting scrutiny over what observers interpret as a softening position towards Russia.

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President Kirsty Coventry has suggested the country’s exile from international competition could soon be lifted.

At the current Games, 13 Russian and seven Belarusian athletes are participating under neutral status.

The athlete advocacy organisation Global Athlete issued an open letter on Monday condemning the IOC’s approach to Russia.

“Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has only intensified since 2022,” the group wrote.

“The fact that the IOC is easing restrictions against Russia suggests that even under the new presidency of Kirsty Coventry, it remains influenced by the very political forces it claims to stand apart from.”