Swedish high jumper Green Tregaro told gay rights nail painting may be violation of rules

MOSCOW – The Swedish high jumper that painted her fingernails in the colours of the rainbow to support gay rights has been told she could be in violation of the code of conduct at the world championships, a Swedish athletics official said Saturday.

Anders Albertsson, the general secretary of the Swedish athletics federation, said he doesn’t know whether Emma Green Tregaro would repeat the nail-painting gesture for Saturday’s high jump final at Luzhniki Stadium.

Green Tregaro’s decision on Thursday was a quiet criticism of a Russian law that bans so-called propaganda supporting homosexuality to minors. Russian pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva said it showed disrespect to Russia.

“We have been informally approached by the IAAF. They were saying that this was by definition a breach of the regulations, not saying anything else, really,” Albertsson said. “We have informed our athletes about this.

“The impression one gets is that this came from her heart,” Albertsson said. “I don’t think Emma thought this would be so big.”

Isinbayeva’s criticism of the Swedish athlete’s gesture attracted wide attention because she also said she supported Russia’s law and that Russians have “normal” heterosexual relations.

In the wake of the attention, Isinbayeva said the next day she may have been misunderstood because she was speaking in English rather than her native language. She also said she is against discrimination.