ROB HEFFERNAN HAS a “very strong” case for an upgrade to an Olympic bronze medal in light of the latest WADA doping report, his agent said last night.

But there has been no official communication between the Cork walker and athletics bosses at this point.

Heffernan, who finished fourth in the 50km walk at London 2012, described himself as ‘Olympic medallist in waiting’ following the publication of the damning Pound report on Monday.

Race winner Sergey Kirdyapkin is one of a number of athletes named by the investigation which points to systemic state-sponsored doping in Russia.

If found guilty, Kirdyapkin would be stripped of his Olympic gold and Heffernan would be promoted from fourth to bronze accordingly.

“If the Independent Commission report from WADA on the scale of doping practices in Russia is correct and the wrong-doing mentioned therein are to be remedied, then the case for Robert Heffernan to be promoted to an Olympic Bronze Medal is very strong,” agent Derry McVeigh said in a short statement.

But Robert accepts there is a process to be followed respecting both the rights of those who are accused of doping offences and the need to remedy injustices perpetrated on clean athletes.

“Obviously Robert has very mixed emotions in relation to this and for the time being will decline all further media requests on this subject.

“Nothing official has been made known to us about the possibility of promoting Robert to Olympic Bronze.

“At this point in time, Robert remains focused on his preparations for Rio.”

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