ROME • Wayde van Niekerk, the 400m world file holder, has examined optimistic for the coronavirus, in accordance with Italian every day Gazzetta dello Sport on Saturday.
The South African, who has been in quarantine since arriving in Italy on July 19 on a particular flight, was presupposed to run within the 100m and 400m on the Trieste Meet, which might have been his first competitors exterior his homeland since 2017.
His supervisor Peet van Zyl was shocked, saying: “I do not know the way it’s potential. Wayde has been coaching for the entire week and by no means had any symptom, not even after testing optimistic. He hasn’t had a fever.
“We have at all times been remoted, we have by no means been with different individuals, we have now a resort ground only for us, we solely left the resort to go to the observe.”
He additionally instructed Gazzetta: “Within the final 14 days, every of us has been examined 4 occasions, the final one was on Thursday.
“This afternoon (Friday), we have been requested to be examined once more, we need to make sure that to be secure and we’re ready for the outcomes.”
The 28-year-old van Niekerk clocked a file 43.03 seconds to win the 400m gold on the 2016 Rio Olympic Video games however has been out of motion since 2017 with a knee harm.
XINHUA