Yogeshwar Dutt turns good samaritan, says Russian's family can keep silver
New Delhi: Yogeshwar Dutt showcased true sportsmanship when he asked authorities to let the family of the deceased wrestler, Russia’s Besik Kudukhov, keep the 2012 London Games silver medal in the 60 kg category.
On Tuesday, Yogeshwar’s bronze was upgraded to silver after Kudukhov — who died in a car crash in 2013 — returned a positive dope test on samples taken from the 2012 Games.
Yogeshwar, however, said that Kudukhov’s family should be allowed to keep his silver medal on humanitarian grounds. Yogeshwar wrote on Twitter, “Besik Kudukhov shandaar pehelwaan the (Besik Kudukhov was a magnificent wrestler). Unke mirtyu ke baad dope test mein fail ho jana bahut dukht hai (His dope test returning positive after his death is very sad). Main khiladi ke roop mein main unka samaan karta hoon (As a wrestler, I respect him).”
He added, “Agar ho sake toh yeh medal unhi ke paas rehne diya jaaye (If possible, he must be allowed to keep the medal). Unke pariwar ke liye bhi samaan purna hoga (It will keep his family’s honour intact). Mere liye manaviya samvedana sarvopari hai (For me, humanity is above everything else).”
The 33-year-old wrestler would be handed a silver medal after the Wrestling Fede-ration of India gets the confirmation in writing from the world body. As per rules, Yogeshwar’s London sample too would be tested before his medal is upgraded.
