Was Russian female athletes' podium kiss protesting anti-gay law?

in support of the LGBT community. Isinbayeva also said Russians considered themselves "normal, standard" people who "just live boys with woman, woman with boys."

Since making those remarks, Isinbayeva has backtracked somewhat and said she was misunderstood because she was speaking in English and not her native Russian. (Take note: That was not an apology.)

Her Swedish peer, Emma Green Tregaro, has swapped out her nail polish for an apolitical red, because the Swedish track and field federation asked her to. Apparently the IAAF, track's governing body, warned the Swedes that Green Tregaro's nail polish may have violated its code of conduct - despite a statement from a spokesman citing the organization's "belief in free expression as a basic human right, which means we must respect the opinions of both Green Tregaro and Isinbayeva."

Apparently not. It turns out free expression is only acceptable when it's taken off the track and out of view. The International Olympic Committee has taken much the same stance, saying competitors could be disqualified from the Winter Games for making demonstrations in Sochi. Both groups' policies have tough implications for athletes who wish to compete as out, proud Olympians.

Of course, neither group's "shut up and compete" dictum is as oppressive a law that threatens to imprison Russians for expressing their views on equality. But the IAAF and IOC's policies are similarly archaic.

As they arrive in Russia over the next few months, LGBT athletes and their allies will be in a position to draw attention to the plights of Russians being silenced, attacked and tortured. If competitors choose to engage in gestures as small as a rainbow flag pin or multicolored nail polish, what business do international sports federations have stopping them?