The fact that he failed a dope test after his death is really sad.
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Yogeshwar, who had bowed out in the first round of men’s 65kg freestyle at the recently concluded Rio Olympic Games, had lost to Kudukhov in the pre-quarterfinals at London.
However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recently chose to re-test samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 Games which returned several positive results. That means Kudukhov’s medal will be vacated, and Yogeshwar will be awarded the silver. Since the late wrestler advanced into the final, the Indian got another chance in the repêchage round and went on to claim the bronze.
Two-time Olympic medallist Kudukhov had died in a vehicle crash in southern Russian Federation in 2013, a year after winning the silverware in London.
“If possible, he should be allowed to keep his medal”.
This medal upgrade had initially come as positive news for Yogeshwar, who had a miserable Rio Olympics.
The official confirmation, though, is still awaited from the United World Wrestling.
Kudukhov is considered to be one of the greatest icons of modern wrestling.
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Eventual Silver Medal victor, Russia’s Besik Kudukhov had reportedly tested positive for a banned substance which meant that Yogeshwar Dutt would be receiving an upgrade, turning the Indian’s Bronze medal to a Silver. Yogeshwar Dutt received his upgrade after the silver medalist in his weight category was found to be positive of drug after his sample was retested 4 years later. As per Russian agency, flowrestling.org, the four-time world champion and two-time Olympic medallist Kudukhov, who had died in a vehicle crash in 2013 in southern Russia, was found to have used a banned substance in a test conducted by the WADA.
