What happens if athletes refuse to accept medal at Olympic games

Winning an Olympic medal is one of the greatest achievements in life and we've seen so many athletes in utter ecstasy after getting on the podium in Paris.

Even if its a silver or bronze as opposed to the coveted gold, most have still appeared extremely happy.

It's a stark contrast to what sometimes happens in football finals, where there is now a pattern of distraught losers removing their runners up medals.

The Olympics upholds the highest standards of respect and sportsmanship and there are two high-profile examples of where discourtesy has resulted in the most severe of punishments.

Back in 1992 in Barcelona, weightlifter Ibragim Samadov represented the Unified Team of the former Soviet Union and claimed bronze in the light heavyweight category.

He had won gold at World Weightlifting championships a year earlier and after three individuals were tied, he ended up dropping to bronze because he weighed .05 kg heavier.

Unhappy with the outcome, Samadov refused to lean in so the medal could be place around his neck at the ceremony.

Instead, he went against the grain and accepted it in his hand before dropping it on the podium and walking off to a chorus of boos.

Samadov was disqualified and hit with a lifetime ban by the IOC (International Olympic Committee).

The suspension was upheld despite an apology and he is therefore ineligible for the Weightlifting Hall of Fame.

Samadov's antics were replicated by Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian in the Beijing edition of the games.

Image: Getty

Abrahamian lost to Italian Andrea Minguzzi in the semi final of the 84kg weight class of the Greco-Roman wrestling event.

He said there were "blatant errors in judging" and he and his coach accused the officials of corruption.

Having won silver in 2004, Abrahamian did win the bronze medal match but was not bothered in the slightest.

Although he shook hands and accepted the medal, he quickly removed it, exited the podium and placed it on the competition mat.

The IOC promptly disqualified and banned him for life following a hearing, with the medal rendered obsolete.

Image: Getty

"The awards ceremony is a highly symbolic ritual, acknowledged as such by all athletes and other participants," the IOC said in a statement.

"Any disruption by any athlete, in particular a medalist, is in itself an insult to the other athletes and to the Olympic Movement. It is also contrary to the spirit of fair play."

The lifetime ban was later reversed in 2009 but Abrahamian had already had enough of the sport and never wrestled again.

As the penguins said in Madagascar, maybe it's best to "smile and wave".