Russian canoeist Ilia Shtokalov told TASS on Tuesday that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is still unable to find an opportunity of handing him the bronze medal of the 2016 Olympics.

Axar.az reports citing TASS.

At the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, Shtokalov finished fourth in men’s singles 1,000m sprint. The bronze went to Moldova’s Sergei Tarnovski, who was later disqualified after his doping tests proved positive for performance enhancing drugs.

Tarnovski filed an appeal against his disqualification with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but the Swiss-based court rejected the appeal on July 11, 2018. In August 2018 the IOC announced its decision to award the 2016 Olympics bronze to Shtokalov and offered the Russian athlete to choose the date and place, where the medal would be handed over to him.

"The saga with the medal’s return continues and the award has not been yet given back," Shtokalov said in an interview with TASS. "The International Olympic Committee is still undecided on the date for the awarding ceremony although almost half a year has already passed."

"I receive all information via the Russian Olympic Committee," the 32-year-old Russian sprint canoeist said.

"As far as I know, a request was submitted with the IOC in September and a statement in response said that the International Olympic Committee is deciding on the date. Since then the IOC is mum," Shtokalov added.

The 2016 Olympic gold in men’s singles canoeing 1,000m sprint went to Germany’s Sebastian Brendel and the silver was packed by Brazilian canoeist Isaquias Queiroz.