RESPECT! Despite bronze to silver upgrade, Yogeshwar Dutt refuses to accept medal - Here's why

New Delhi: Yogeshwar Dutt and Indian sports fans on Tuesday were treated to some excellent news.

After the IOC stripped Besik Kudukhov off his London 2012 silver medal following a doping violation, the colour of Dutt's medal was upgraded. 

Despite this development, the Haryana wrestler on Wednesday refused to accept his new medal. Dutt stated that it was sad to hear of the Russian failing a dope test but he respected him as an athlete.

The 33-year-old added that he would prefer if the medal was retained by Kudukhov's family.

Yogi took to social micro-blogging site Twitter to share his feelings.

Besik Kudukhov शानदार पहलवान थे। उनका मृत्यु के पश्चात dope test में fail हो जाना दुखद हैं। मैं खिलाड़ी के रूप में उनका सम्मान करता हूँ। — Yogeshwar Dutt (@DuttYogi) August 31, 2016

अगर हो सके तो ये मेडल उन्ही के पास रहने दिया जाए। उनके परिवार के लिए भी सम्मानपूर्ण होगा। मेरे लिए मानवीय संवेदना सर्वोपरि है। — Yogeshwar Dutt (@DuttYogi) August 31, 2016

After IOC's verdict, Yogeshwar became only the second Indian wrestler to win a silver medal at the Olympics.