Five years after the Sochi Olympics, the team led by Oskars Melbārdis and also consisting of Daumants Dreiškens, Jānis Strenga un Arvis Vilkaste were confirmed as the true champions after a lengthy appeals process by the cheating Russian team led by Alexander Zubkov was finally rejected by Olympic officials. Consequently the Latvian team will go into the history books as the champions from now on.
Confirmation of the result was made by the Latvian Olympic Committee.
OFICIĀLI!!! @Olympics apstiprinājusi @Sochi2014 bobsleja sacensību rezultātus un veikusi medaļu pārdali. @OMelbardis ar savu vareno komandu ir kļuvuši par Olimpiskajiem čempioniem un bronzas medaļas ieguvējiem. APSVEICAM!!! ???????????? https://t.co/wRRDCjC2p9 #OlimpiadeLV pic.twitter.com/b4vaWahdsB
— LOK (@Olimpiade_lv) March 27, 2019
The Russian team were guilty of doping, yet notwithstanding the fact Zubkov was later appointed chairman of the Russian Bobsled Federation. He only ended his tenure on March 20 this year.
A decision about when and where the medals will be presented to the true champions remains to be taken.
