10 Dec 2013

Olympic athletes to be warned against protest

7:38 pm on 10 December 2013

Athletes competing at next year's Winter Olympics in Sochi will be warned not to make any political gestures or protest against a Russian law banning gay propaganda.

The International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach says athletes will be reminded of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter which bans any demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda at any Olympic sites.

The warning has prompted questions about whether athletes will be allowed to wear rainbow pins or patchs in support of gay rights.

At the World Athletics Championships in Moscow earlier this year a Swedish high jumper was asked to repaint her nails which she'd painted in rainbow colours.