IAAF cracks down on nail-paint gesture

Swedish high jumper Emma Green-Tregaro,who painted her fingernails in the colours of the rainbow flag in support of Russias gay community,was told not to repeat the gesture in Saturdays world championship final. We have been informally approached by the IAAF International Association of Athletics Federations saying that this is by definition,a breach of the regulations. We have informed our athletes about this, Anders Albertsson,general secretary of the Swedish athletics federation,told a huddle of reporters. The code of conduct clearly states the rules do not allow any commercial or political statements during the competition.

Sure enough,Tregaro,who finished fifth in the high jump competition,turned up for the event with her nails painted red. Tregaros discreet support on Thursday during qualifying prompted Russias pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva to brand her disrespectful to our country.

Isinbayeva,an ambassador for next years Winter Olympics to be staged in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi,ignited a media storm by saying she supported the controversial law.

She backtracked the following day when she said she had been misunderstood after making her comments in English. The legislation,which was passed in June,outlaws some aspects of the promotion of homosexuality and has become a political hot potato ahead of the Sochi Games,when it will apply to athletes and spectators.