Great Britain's skeleton athletes Matt Weston and Marcus Wyatt have been dealt a major blow after the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) banned their new aerodynamic helmets for not complying with shape rules. The helmets were trialled in St Moritz last week and banned on 29 January.
Weston and Wyatt have dominated the World Cup circuit this season, winning all seven races between them, and are strong favourites for gold and silver at the Milano Cortina Games. The helmet ban could impact their performance, though they will still compete using alternative helmets.
Team GB has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, arguing the helmet meets rigorous safety standards. The appeal will be heard on Thursday, with a verdict expected on Friday. Weston and Wyatt are scheduled to compete on 12 and 13 February.
UK Sport has invested £5,765,123 of National Lottery funding in skeleton over the past four years. Performance director Kate Baker said the team had been using new technology, including a dedicated wind tunnel, to improve performance. This is not the first controversy for Team GB skeleton; in 2018, their aerodynamic suits were questioned but declared legal.
