Indian Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt may not have won the coveted Olympic gold, but he surely has a heart of gold !!

India was happy when they heard that wrestler Yogesghwar Dutt’s bronze medal from 2012 London Olympics would be upgraded to silver. This was because the 2012 silver medallist, Besik Kudokhov from Russia tested positive for a banned substance.

The Russian wrestler died in a car crash in 2013. His urine samples were retested after his death. Thus, because of this positive doping result, Yogeshwar Dutt got an automatic medal upgrade.

The wrestler himself joined in the wave of happiness as he dedicated the medal to his fellow countrymen.

आज सुबह पता चला की मेरा olympic medal upgrade हो कर Silver medal हो गया है। ये मेडल भी देशवासियों को समर्पित हैं?? pic.twitter.com/S6qxNHW9Po

— Yogeshwar Dutt (@DuttYogi) August 30, 2016

But on Wednesday morning, Yogeshwar said that he wanted Besik Kudukhov’s family to keep the silver medal. Besik died in a car accident back in 2013 just a year after the London Summer Games. But IOC’s re-testing of samples for dope abuse revealed that Besik had taken performance enhancing drugs during the London Games.

Call it respect for the departed or an unwritten warrior’s code. Yogeshwar Dutt wants Kudokhov’s family to keep the silver medal as it would be respectful to them.

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

Translation:

If possible this medal should remain with him. It will also be respectful to his family. For me human compassion is above all else.

Later, Yogeshwar remembered Kudukhov as a fantastic wrestler and as a player he has utmost respect for the late Russian. Yogeshwar added that he is saddened to see Kudukhov’s sample being tested positive after his death.

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

Translation:

Besik Kudukhov was a magnificent wrestler. His dope test returning positive after his death is very sad. I respect him as a sportsman.

It takes an immense amount of respect and selflessness to say no to a medal that actually belongs to you. It is not as if he had to fight in the court to win it.

Kudokhov failed his dope test, a tainted athlete and yet Yogeshwar Dutt spoke only good things about him and let his family keep the medal.

If this is not the true Olympic spirit, we do not know what it.