A politician who played a big part in the passage of Russia's anti-gay legislation told reporters that his country will not stop enforcing the laws for the 2014 Olympics -- despite assurances from the International Olympic Committee.
"I have not heard comments of the Government of the Russian Federation, but I know that it is acting in accordance with Russian law. And if there is already a law passed by the Federal Assembly, signed by the President, the government ... has no such authority," Vitaly Milonov said in an interview with Interfax.
He added that the law does not apply to "normal adult behavior" (though interpretations of it would suggest otherwise) and added he does not know any LGBT athletes.
The Russian law, signed last month by Russian President Vladimir Putin, gives Russian authorities the power to detain or expel "pro-gay" foreigners.
Across the United States, there have been calls to boycott the Olympics and Russian vodka over the laws.
On Friday, the IOC said it had "from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect those attending or taking part in the Games."
Former Olympians like Greg Louganis and the USOC have spoken out against boycotting the Olympics.
"History has proven that the only people that are negatively affected by boycotts are the athletes who have trained their whole lives to compete," USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky told the AP. "Past boycotts have not worked, and the USOC is not planning on boycotting these Games."
