©Getty Images

The family of the late Steven Holcomb are set to receive two Olympic silver medals after the results of the two and four-man bobsleigh results from Sochi 2014 were officially amended and the United States moved up a position in both events, it was announced here today. 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board officially confirmed the new medal allocation following the disqualification in 2017 of Russia's Alexandr Zubkov for doping offences. 

Switzerland's Beat Hefti and Alex Baumann were upgraded to the gold medal in the two-man event.

Latvia's Oskars Melbārdis, Arvis Vilkaste, Daumants Dreiškens and Jānis Strenga move in the four-man bob from silver to gold medal - Latvia's first ever in the Winter Olympics. 

Holcomb died in May 2017.

Holcomb and Steve Langton had competed in the two-man event and were then accompanied by Chris Fogt and Curt Tomasevicz in the four-man.

The medals will be presented to the athletes and the family of Holcomb, who piloted both teams, in a ceremony with details to be announced.

Latvia, left, have been promoted to the Olympic gold medals in the four-man bob at Sochi 2014 and the United States, right, to silver after the original winners Russia were disqualified ©Getty Images
Latvia, left, have been promoted to the Olympic gold medals in the four-man bob at Sochi 2014 and the United States, right, to silver after the original winners Russia were disqualified ©Getty Images

"We have always believed in competing with integrity and respect for ourselves, our sport and for our competitors," Fogt, Langton and Tomasevicz said in a joint statement. 

"It’s unfortunate that our results were not official in February of 2014 and that we’ve had to endure the long process to see justice finally served. 

"We are happy that we now can celebrate and be proud of the silver medal accomplishments.

"This result appropriately bolsters Holcomb’s legacy as one of the very best athletes to ever drive a bobsled. 

"Being the fierce competitor and advocate for clean sport that that he was, he would be smiling knowing that we’re one step closer to a fair playing field. 

"As a team, it means a lot to have our efforts, sacrifice and hard work appropriately vindicated. 

"That being said, this is a win not just for Team Holcomb but for all athletes who continue to do the right thing."

Switzerland's Beat Hefti and Alex Baumann have finally been officially upgraded by the International Olympic Committee Executive Board from the silver to gold medal in the Sochi 2014 two-man bob ©Getty Images
Switzerland's Beat Hefti and Alex Baumann have finally been officially upgraded by the International Olympic Committee Executive Board from the silver to gold medal in the Sochi 2014 two-man bob ©Getty Images

The medal reallocation also means that Latvia win a bronze in the two-man with Oskars Melbārdis and Daumants Dreiskens being promoted from fourth. 

Britain's team of John James Jackson, Stuart Benson, Bruce Tasker and Joel Fearon move from fourth to the bronze medal in the four-man.

Zubkov was disqualified after being implicated by Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory in Moscow, who later fled to the United States and became a whistleblower. 

Zubkov, forced to step down as Russian Bobsleigh Federation because of his ban, was sanctioned alongside Alexander Kasjanov, Aleksei Pushkarev, Ilvir Khuzin and Alexei Voevoda, his team-mates from Sochi 2014.

Zubkov is currently refusing to return his gold medals to the IOC so new ones will have to be minted to be awarded to the Switzerland and Latvia crews.