A photograph of two female Russian runners kissing on a podium at the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow is sparking debate. Kseniya Rhyzhova and Tatyana Firova embraced one another with a kiss after they won the gold medal in the 4x400-meter relay.

The viral world is in heated debate as to the purpose of Rhyzhova and Firova's display. Some argue that the kiss was a form of protest against a new Russian law that outlaws "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations." This includes fines on those participating in gay pride rallies.

On the other hand, this is not the first time the pair have been recorded kissing after a major victory.  Some debaters think the act was merely one of celebrity, fun and celebration.

Neither Rhyzhova nor Firova have commented on the incident.

The Russian law has created concern regarding next year's Winter Olympics, which will take place in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. Many worry about what this means for international athletes and spectators.

According to Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, the Western world is exaggerating the extremity of the law.

"We don't have a law to ban non-traditional sexual relations," he said in a statement. "The mass media in the West have focused much more on this law more than they do in Russia."

Mutko says the law was made to protect children, not offend adults.

"We want to protect our younger generation whose physicality has not been formulated. It is a law striving to protect rights of children -- and not intended to deprive anybody of their private life," he said in a statement.

The relay team won the gold with a time of 3:20:19, besting the United States (3:20:41) and Great Britain (3:22:61).