Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych remains barred from Olympic competition, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled Friday, upholding his earlier disqualification for wearing a “helmet of remembrance” for his countrymen killed by Russia.

Heraskevych, 27, had refused to back down on wearing the helmet, telling NBC News that some things “are more important than medals.”

Follow along for live coverage

“The Sole Arbitrator appointed for this matter wished to state that she is fully sympathetic to Mr. Heraskevych’s commemoration and to his attempt to raise awareness for the grief and devastation suffered by the Ukrainian people, and Ukrainian athletes because of the war,” said the Court for Arbitration for sport in a news release announcing the decision. “She heard the arguments and examined the Athlete Expression Guidelines, which state that freedom of speech is a fundamental right of any athlete competing in the Olympic Games, but limit the right to express views during competitions on the field of play.

“The Sole Arbitrator found these limitations reasonable and proportionate, considering the other opportunities for athletes to raise awareness (in mixed zones, in press conferences, on social networks, or in Mr. Heraskevych’s case, wearing the helmet during four training runs).

“The Sole Arbitrator notes that the goal of this is to maintain the focus of the Olympic Games on performances and sport, a common interest of all athletes. The Sole Arbitrator is bound by such proportionate rules and has no means to override them. As a consequence, the application was dismissed.”

Heraskevych was removed from the schedule at the Milan Cortina Olympics shortly before he was due to compete on Thursday, after the Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation ruled that his helmet breached its rules on political neutrality.

Almost into its fifth year of a full-scale invasion by Russia, Ukraine’s government said it was a “moment of shame” for the International Olympic Committee.

Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter forbids any “kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda.”

Heraskevych told NBC News that the IOC told him that the helmet also violates part of rule 40, which he said is about the media and how athletes can express themselves at the Games.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry said Thursday that Heraskevych “did not consider any form of compromise” during several meetings. “No one, no one — especially me — is disagreeing with the messaging. The messaging is a powerful message.”

Both she and the IOC, in a statement, said the athlete had been allowed to wear the helmet in training, but it drew the line at him donning it for competition.

Heraskevych filed an application Thursday with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, an independent body that represents the highest level of appeal for athletes and teams.

The hearing began Friday, with Heraskevych attending with his father and telling reporters outside the court in Milan on Friday that he was “pretty positive about how it went” after his own appearance, according to Reuters. “I hope the truth will prevail and I know that I was innocent.”

The entire procedure in front of the court took 24 hours, the court said.

The damage may go beyond the Olympic controversy, as the racer said he was now getting threats from Russians, for which he blames the IOC’s decision.

“I believe that these Games now and this act of the IOC also serves as an instrument of propaganda for Russia,” Heraskevych said. “I still receive a lot of threats from the Russian side.”

On Thursday, he told NBC News, “I believe I am right in this case,” he said. “For me to back down is betraying” those pictured on the helmet.