Great Britain's top medal hopes at the Winter Olympics have suffered a setback after skeleton's governing body banned new aerodynamic helmets for being the wrong shape. Matt Weston and Marcus Wyatt, who have dominated the World Cup season, were set to use the helmets in Milano Cortina.
The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) banned the helmets on 29 January, stating they did not comply with rules based on their shape. Team GB has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with a hearing on Thursday and a verdict expected on Friday. The athletes compete next week.
UK Sport has invested £5.76 million of National Lottery funding in skeleton over four years. Weston, 28, is world champion and has won five races this season, while Wyatt has won two. Performance director Kate Baker noted the integration of skeleton and bobsleigh programmes under Nat Dunman, and the use of a wind tunnel for testing.
This is not the first controversy for Team GB skeleton; in 2018, their aerodynamic suits were questioned but deemed legal by the IBSF.
