Swede Abrahamian refuses wrestling bronze medal

Greco-Roman wrestler Ara Abrahamian of Sweden refused to receive his bronze medal on Thursday as the Beijing Olympics was treated to a raised-fist protest.

The Swede, who won the silver in the Athens Olympics last year, grudgingly climbed the podium but stormed off in a huff after receiving his prize, which he left at the center 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 84kg division in the semi-finals, but the match was awarded to the Italian.

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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.