'Protests not allowed'

 Protests by athletes over Russia's anti-gay propaganda law during news conferences at the Sochi Winter Olympics are unacceptable as they go against the Olympic Charter, Games chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said on Wednesday.

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach had urged athletes attending the Feb. 7-23 Games in the Black sea resort to refrain from protests on the podium according to an Olympic rule that forbids political statements in Olympic venues.

Bach did, however, indicated that if athletes choose to make their opposition to this law or Russia's human rights record known they could do so at pre- or post-competition news conferences.