The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced on Thursday that it would no longer punish athletes who participate in peaceful protests, such as kneeling or raising a fist at a medal ceremony, putting itself in direct conflict with the longstanding policy of the International Olympic Committee.
The U.S. committee’s announcement was made in conjunction with a formal recommendation from a council led by American athletes that asked the I.O.C. to change its policy, known as Rule 50, while working on justice causes. The policy has come under heightened scrutiny as mass protests calling for racial equality, including demonstrations by professional athletes, have spread widely this year in the United States and other countries.