Abrahamian faces rap for binning bronze

BEIJING: Grumpy Greco-Roman wrestler Ara Abrahamian will face disciplinary action after refusing to accept a bronze medal, which he dumped on the floor, before storming away from his presentation ceremony.

The Swede, who won silver in the Athens Olympics four years ago, grudgingly climbed the podium after finishing third in the 84kg class on Thursday. But he left the medal at the centre of the competition mat before stalking off the stage with a raised clenched right fist. Abrahamian thought he had beaten Andrea Minguzzi, the eventual gold medallist, in the semi-finals, but the match was awarded to the Italian. International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokeswoman Giselle Davies told reporters here Friday that “disciplinary procedures had commenced” against the wrestler. The Swede came back strongly in the repechages to claim one of the two bronzes alongside Nazmi Avluca of Turkey. The medal was later returned to the sport’s governing body. afp

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