Kelly Sotherton will reject 'dirty and tainted' bronze medal given to Russian drugs cheat Tatyana Chernova

Sotherton will instead ask for a 'fresh, clean' medal but insists it's only the recognition that matters after inheriting third place in the 2008 Olympics heptathlon

Kelly Sotherton has asked for a 'fresh, clean' bronze medal after being promoted in the Beijing 2008 heptathlon standings (Getty)

Kelly Sotherton wants a "fresh, clean" Olympic bronze medal and not the one given to Russian drugs cheat Tatyana Chernova, which she regards as "dirty and tainted".

The 40-year-old's finish in the 2008 Beijing Games heptathlon is set to be upgraded to third place after Chernova was belatedly disqualified on Monday having tested positive for a steroid.

Sotherton originally came fifth in the event but has now climbed into the medal positions after first Lyudmila Blonska of Ukraine and now Chernova were found to have doped.

The Briton is hoping to get the opportunity to stand on a podium to receive her Olympic medal - but she does not want the one currently in Chernova's possession.

She told the Times: "If she has had the medal in her house and in her hands for the last nine years why would I want that?

"Why would I want something that has been around her neck? I don't want that - it seems dirty and tainted.

"If I am to get a medal I want a fresh, clean one. But I don't care that much about receiving the medal itself because just being recognised goes a long way."

Sotherton, who won a surprise bronze medal in the heptathlon at the 2004 Games, had already been upgraded to a bronze in the 4x400m relay in Beijing thanks to the belated disqualification of the teams from Belarus and Russia.

She added: "I came away from Beijing feeling a failure and now I have two medals from there and three in all."

Sotherton is happy to just be recognised as the Beijing 2008 heptathlon bronze medallist (Getty)

Sotherton retired from athletics in 2012 having won medals at Commonwealth, European, Olympic and world level, indoors and outdoors.

Chernova, 29, has already lost a 2011 world title, 2012 Olympic bronze and 2013 World Student Games gold for a retrospective positive test from the 2009 world championships.

PA