Openly gay athletes and supporters at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games may face arrest, according to a Russian lawmaker.

Politician Vitaly Milonov said the terms of the law could not be suspended or selectively enforced during the Olympic Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) previously claimed Russia had assured the safety of athletes and supporters.

The IOC told the Windy City Times earlier this month: ‘The International Olympic Committee is clear that sport is a human right and should be available to all regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation.

The Games themselves should be open to all, free of discrimination, and that applies to spectators, officials, media and of course athletes.

‘We would oppose in the strongest terms any move that would jeopardise this principle.’

The controversial ‘gay propaganda’ law bans displays of ‘non-traditional sexual behaviour’ in public or in front of under-18s.

The law allows the government to detain homosexual or sympathetic foreigners for up to 14 days.

They could then face expulsion from the country.