Explained: Why IOC is issuing replacements for medals won in Paris Olympics, including Manu Bhaker's twin bronze

Five months have passed since Paris hosted the Summer Olympics for an unprecedented third time. However, the medals that were awarded in the 33rd edition of the world's biggest multi-sporting event have already begun fading away, leading to barrage of complaints from the athletes.

Among those complaining of their Paris 2024 medal losing colour is pistol shooter Manu Bhaker, who had made history in the French capital by winning two bronze medals – becoming the first Indian to win multiple medals in the same edition of the Olympics post-Independence.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) however, has taken note of the complaints and has assured athletes of replacing "defective medals" with identical models.

"The Paris 2024 Olympic Games Organising Committee is working closely with the Monnaie de Paris (the French state mint), the institution responsible for the manufacture and quality control of the medals, to assess any complaints about the medals and to understand the circumstances and cause of any damage," the IOC said.

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"Defective medals will be systematically replaced by the Monnaie de Paris and engraved identically.

"The replacement process should begin in the coming weeks."

Monnaie de Paris, however, refuted the term "defective" and claimed that the medals pointed out by athletes as "defective" since August have been replaced and that further replacements are being issued "as requests come in".

"We have replaced all the damaged medals since August and we will continue to do so in the same professional manner as before," said a spokesperson for the French governmental institution, adding that replacements were "underway" and were being made "as requests come in".

French online media outlet La Lettre has claimed "more than 100 defective medals have been returned by disgruntled athletes" months after the conclusion of the Paris Olympics. Several athletes have expressed frustration over the fading colour of their Paris 2024 medals, including Indian men's hockey player Hardik Singh, besides shooting sensation Bhaker.

The 5,084 medals that were awarded in the Paris 2024 Games (Olympics as well as Paralympics) were designed by luxury jewellery and watch firm Chaumet (part of the LVMH conglomerate) and produced by the Monnaie de Paris. Each of those medals contained pieces of the iconic Eiffel Tower that were taken from the Parisian monument's operating company.