BOBSLED: Disgraced Zubkov wants a personal letter in order to return his medals

Russia's Alexander Zubkov (Photo: IBSF)

Disgraced Russian gold medalist Alexander Zubkov, who piloted the two-man and four-man sleds to victory in Sochi in 2014, but was disqualified for doping as part of the state-run drug-cheating scandal, will not return his medals unless he receives a personal letter from the International Olympic Committee.

“I never received a letter from the IOC personally, therefore the issue of me returning the awards would be considered only after it happens,” Zubkov told the Russian TASS News Agency.

Zubkov’s doping positive was confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a decision published on 23 April of this year. The IOC has asked the Russian Olympic Committee to assist in the retrieval of the medals, but to no avail so far.

For the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation, the most embarrassing aspect of all is that Zubkov is the president of the Russian Bobsled Federation!