Veteran wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt's chances of upgrading his London 2012 Olympic bronze medal into gold were thwarted after the United World Wrestling (UWW) quashed speculations that the gold medallist, Toghrul Asgarov of Azerbaijan, had tested positive for a banned substance.
"Contrary to news reports, 2012 Olympic gold medalist Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) has never been in violation of UWW's anti-doping policy," the world wrestling body tweeted from its official Twitter handle.
Therefore, the 33-year-old grappler is likely to see his bronze medal upgraded to silver after Russia's Besik Kudukhov, who died in a car crash in 2013, was found guilty of doping violation.
The official confirmation regarding the medal upgradation is yet to come from the world body and the International Olympic Committee. Once the confirmation comes, he will join Sushil Kumar as the second Indian wrestler, and only the fifth Indian ever to win an individual silver medal at the Olympics.
Interestingly, Yogeshwar had last week expressed that he wants the London Olympics silver medal in the men's 60kg category to remain with his late Russian opponent Kudukhov's family.
He stated that it was saddening to see the Russian's sample being tested positive after his death, adding that allowing Kudukhov's family to keep the Olympic medal would be respectful for them.