The British skeleton crew – amongst Crew GB’s finest hopes for medals on the Winter Olympics – won’t be able to put on their new helmets as a result of they don’t adjust to the game’s guidelines round form.
The British crew had appealed to the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) to overturn the choice by the game’s governing physique – the Worldwide Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF).
However Cas say the helmet is a departure from the usual helmet form and has clearly been designed to particularly improve aerodynamic efficiency as a result of the again of the helmet protrudes.
The British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Affiliation (BBSA) pressured that the helmet was designed with security in thoughts and to adjust to new security rules as a result of be launched by the IBSF in the beginning of the 2026-27 season.
These guidelines will not be in place on the Olympics however British skeleton have basically tried to get forward of the curve by designing and utilizing their new helmet in Italy.
An image seen by BBC Sport exhibits that the helmet is pointed on the again – comparable in look to a observe biking helmet.
Natalie Dunman, government efficiency director on the BBSA, mentioned: “Based mostly on the power of the case we put ahead, naturally we’re disenchanted in [the] resolution.
“Nonetheless, this doesn’t have an effect on our ultimate preparations and nor has the discourse affected the athletes’ focus or optimism going into the Video games.
“Our athletes have been profitable medals all season, and all through the Olympic cycle, of their present helmets and we stay in a robust place to proceed that development.”
When requested in regards to the helmet previous to the decision, Crew GB’s skeleton racers mentioned they’d no desire on which helmet they used on the Olympics.
They arrive on the Video games as heavy favourites to win medals with world champion and general World Cup winner Matt Weston main the cost for gold whereas compatriot Marcus Wyatt can be fancied to go properly.
The British crew wore the helmets at a coaching session final week in Switzerland with the IBSF ruling them out on 29 January earlier than the BBSA appealed towards the ban on Thursday.
Official skeleton coaching in Cortina begins on Monday with the lads’s occasion starting on 12 February, whereas the ladies’s begins on 13 February and the crew occasion is on 15 February.
