Chinese cyclists Bao Shanju and Zhong Tianshi have sparked an International Olympic Committee investigation after wearing pins showing ex-communist leader Mao Zedong on the Tokyo Games podium.
The duo wore the badges - commonplace in China for half a century but a potential breach of Article 50 of the Olympic charter - after retaining the women's cycling team sprint title at the Izu Velodrome on Monday.
The IOC last month relaxed Article 50 to allow gestures, such as taking the knee, on the field of play provided athletes do so without disruption and with respect for fellow competitors.
Politics on the podium are still banned, however.
IOC's Mark Adams said on Tuesday they were investigating the incident.
Commonly known as Chairman Mao, the revolutionary was a key founder of the Chinese Communist Party which he led from 1949 until his death in 1976.
The IOC earlier said it was also investigating a gesture made on the podium by American athlete Raven Saunders after she won a silver medal in the shot put on Sunday evening.
Saunders raised her arms in an "X" above her head, which she later indicated was an expression of support for the oppressed.
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee later said the gesture did not breach its rules as it was a "peaceful expression in support of racial and social justice (that) was respectful of her competitors".
Australian Associated Press
