(BBC) — Ethiopia’s Olympic marathon runner Feyisa Lilesa will not lose his silver medal despite making a political protest as he finished the race on Sunday.
He crossed his arms above his head in solidarity with protesters from his Oromo ethnic group in Ethiopia.
There were concerns that he could be sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as rule 50 of the Olympic charter bans political displays or protests.
In an email to the BBC, an IOC spokesperson said: “We spoke to the athlete and reminded him of the Olympic charter.”
The spokesperson added that no further action would be taken.
Speaking after the race in Rio, Lilesa explained his protest by saying: “The Ethiopian government are killing the Oromo people and taking their land and resources so the Oromo people are protesting and I support the protest as I am Oromo.”
He is now said to be seeking political asylum.
Ethiopia protest Olympian ‘overwhelmed by support’
(BBC) –The Ethiopian Olympic marathon runner Feyisa Lilesa who made an anti-government gesture when he crossed the line on Sunday has told the BBC’s Emmanuel Igunza that he is overwhelmed by the worldwide support he has received.
He made the gesture in support of the Oromo protesters.
Lilesa was talking on the phone from Rio de Janeiro and told Emmanuel that he will stay there while his lawyer continues working on an asylum request to the US.
He did not fly back home with the rest of the team earlier this week, insisting that he faces arrest or death if he goes to Ethiopia.
Lilesa however did say he has been in touch with his wife and children who are safe in the capital, Addis Ababa.