IOC: Ukraine athletes not banned from wearing black armbands The International Olympic Committee said on Thursday that Ukrainian athletes had not been banned from wearing armbands at the Sochi Olympics in protest at the authorities' deadly use of force against the protests in Kiev. IOC spokesman Mark Adams added that the head of Ukraine's Olympic Committee, the former pole vault star Sergey Bubka, understood the decision of any Ukrainian athlete who wanted to leave the Games. Images and soundbites.