Team GB freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy will face no punishment from Olympic authorities after sharing a provocative image on social media showing "F*** ICE" written in yellow snow.
The 34-year-old, who boasts 1.2 million Instagram followers making him the most prominent figure in the British squad, posted the apparent urine-based protest on Wednesday to voice his opposition to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
The International Olympic Committee has confirmed the athlete will not be disciplined for his actions.
An IOC spokesperson stated: "During the Olympic Games, all participants have the opportunity to express their views as per the Athlete Expression Guidelines.
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"The IOC does not regulate personal social media posts."
ICE agents are currently stationed in Milan providing security for US Vice President JD Vance, who will attend the Opening Ceremony at the San Siro this evening.
The federal agency has faced intense criticism both domestically and internationally following the fatal shooting of two people in Minnesota, which has triggered widespread protests.
Gus Kenworthy posted a picture of his message in the snow
|Kenworthy, who resides in Colorado, accompanied his image with a detailed call to action for American citizens.
"You can call your Senator at (202) 224-3121 to speak up against ICE and put pressure on them during the current DHS funding negotiations," he wrote.
His message included a sample script urging senators to oppose any Department of Homeland Security funding agreement that fails to impose meaningful restrictions on ICE and Border Patrol operations.
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The British Olympic Association is understood to be relaxed about the controversial post, viewing it as a personal opinion concerning matters unrelated to the Games themselves.
Olympic Charter Rule 50.2 explicitly prohibits political, religious or racial demonstrations at any Olympic sites, venues or designated areas, stating it "provides for the protection of neutrality of sport at the Olympic Games".
However, Kenworthy's protest falls outside these restrictions as the image was captured before his arrival in Italy.
The Essex-born athlete only touched down in Milan within the past few days, meaning the yellow snow message was created elsewhere entirely.
On Thursday, he acknowledged the nature of his earlier post with characteristic humour, writing: "My last post was pee so it only felt appropriate to follow it up with a lil' dump of photos from January. Yes, I'm a child."
Kenworthy was born in Chelmsford before relocating to Colorado at the age of two, and has previously represented the United States at the highest level.
Gus Kenworthy has 1.2million followers on Instagram
|PA
He claimed slopestyle silver at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics competing for the American team, before switching allegiance to Team GB following the 2018 Pyeongchang Games to honour his British mother.
The openly gay athlete, who has appeared in FX's American Horror Story among other television productions, emerged from retirement last year to secure qualification for what will be his fourth Olympic appearance.
He is scheduled to compete in the men's freeski halfpipe qualifying round at Livigno Snow Park on Thursday 19 February.
Kenworthy has form for political statements, having been critical of the Chinese government during Beijing 2022.