Earlier this week at the World Athletic Games in Moscow, Swedish High Jumper, Emma Green-Tregaro, displayed some solidarity for the LGBT community by painting her fingernails in the colours of the rainbow.
Now the athlete has been asked by the competitions governing body to repaint her nails. The IAAF has stated that Green-Tregaro was asked to make the change because the rules of the competition’s code of conduct prohibits competitors from making any commercial or political statements.
Media outlets had reported that Russian gold medal winning pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva had labeled Green-Tregaro has ‘direspectful”. However, the Russian athlete has subsequently said that her comments were misunderstood and that she does not support any form of discrimination against homosexuals.
Earlier this year Russian President Vladimir Putin approved new laws that make it illegal to promote homosexually in Russia.
The action taken against Green-Tregaro does however foreshadow the challenges that may arise during the Sochi Winter Olympics later this year. While there had been some statements saying that the law would not affect the Olympic competition – Russian authorities have now clarified that the law will be enforced during the games.
OIP Staff
Image: Stock Image from YayMicro: RuslanOmega
