21 Feb 2013

Wrestling champ returns gold medal in protest

5:59 am on 21 February 2013

The president of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation, Valentin Yordanov has returned his Olympic gold medal from the 1996 Atlanta Games in protest at the IOC's recommendation to drop the ancient sport from the Games programme.

Another Builgatrian wrestling hero, double Olympic champion Armen Nazarian, now the national coach, has said he's considering going on hunger strike in protest.

The wrestling world was shocked last week when the IOC made a surprise recommendation to drop the sport from 2020.

Seven sports are competing for one vacant spot on a revamped Olympic programme, and the IOC will make its decision in September.