The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) board on Thursday voted in favor of adding sexual orientation to its non-discrimination policy.

The move comes as Russia prepares to host the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Over the summer, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed laws which prohibit gay and lesbian couples from adopting Russian-born children and the public promotion of gay rights where minors might be present, effectively shutting down public demonstrations of support. Russia's “gay propaganda” law has provoked worldwide protests and calls for a boycott of the Sochi games.

USOC CEO Scott Blackmun reiterated that the federation does not approve of the law.

“The fact that we do not think it is our role to advocate for a change in the Russian law does not mean that we support the law, and we do not,” Blackmun is quoted by the AP as saying during his annual address to the USOC Assembly on Friday.

Blackmun also said that the USOC would not stop athletes attending the Winter Olympics in Russia from showing support for gay rights.

(Related: Russian police arrest activists protesting anti-gay laws.)