Serbia has officially protested the International Olympic Committee's decision to grant provisional recognition to Kosovo.

The move by the IOC executive board on Wednesday clears the way for the Kosovo to send an independent team to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Full recognition will be proposed at the IOC assembly in Monaco in December.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbia has refused to accept the split.

Serbia's Olympic Committee on Thursday said it "strongly condemned" the IOC decision and lodged a formal protest. It said further moves will depend on official Serbian policies toward Kosovo and recommendations by politicians.

Serbia contends that Kosovo cannot be recognized by the IOC as it is not an U.N. member.

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