All athletes have been banned from taking the knee as a gesture of showing support for the Black Lives Matter movement at the Tokyo Olympics.

The IOC has recently decided to weigh down on all those who choose to make any form of politically oriented gesture during the Olympics games, confirmed media reports.

This includes gestures such as taking the knee or even raising the fist, two commonly observed signs that show support for the Black Lives Matter Movement. In addition, the relevant authorities also spoke about how the athletes would be punished if they chose to bypass any of the rules enlisted.

The Olympic Committee also spoke on Wednesday about how it will maintain this ban throughout the games and will strictly prohibit all forms of protests conducted inside the stadiums, on podiums, as well as during the ceremonies.

Against the recent backdrop relating to the Black Lives Matter Movement that protested all calls for racial injustice, more and more calls have been made over the past few months in terms of a change to the rule that would indirectly allow athletes to carry out protests.

Meanwhile, quite a few global federations chiefs have made calls to allow the players the right to make certain gestures relating to political-themed protests during the high-profile games. This includes names such as the President for the World Athletics, Sebastian Coe.

But the chief of the commission for the IOC Athletes mentioned that the majority of the players enrolled in the games were in favor of zero protests upon the playing fields or on the podiums too.

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