Aussie athletics team forced into isolation

By Matt Bungard and Ben Glover

The Australian athletics squad person been locked down successful the Olympic village, arsenic administrators were near scrambling pursuing a affirmative trial for an American athlete.

World champion US rod vaulter Sam Kendricks had tested affirmative for COVID-19, and was officially ruled retired of the Olympics this day - with Australia's Kurtis Marschal, besides a rod vaulter, reportedly a adjacent contact.

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Australian rod vaulter Kurtis Marschal was a adjacent interaction of an American rival, who has present tested affirmative for COVID-19. (Getty)

There is interest Kendricks was grooming with Marschall.

As a result, the Australian squad of 63 were each swiftly brought backmost to the colony wherever they volition beryllium unopen disconnected from members of different sports.

"Members of Australia's way and tract squad astatine the Tokyo Olympic Games are isolating successful their rooms arsenic a precautionary measurement pursuing quality of a COVID affirmative uncovering with a subordinate of the US way and tract team," a connection released by the Australian Olympic Committee said.

"Members of the Australian way and tract squad are present undergoing investigating procedures successful enactment with Australian Olympic Team protocols."

The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee confirmed Kendricks' affirmative result.

American rod vault prima Sam Kendricks. (Getty)

"We are saddened to corroborate that Sam Kendricks tested affirmative for COVID-19 and volition not vie successful the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020," the USOPC tweeted.

"In alignment with section rules and protocols, helium has been transferred to a edifice to beryllium placed successful isolation and is being supported by the USATF and USOPC staff."

There's ne'er a bully clip for a COVID-19 scare but this 1 has been horrendously timed for the Australia team, with way and tract events starting tomorrow. The rod vault contention is scheduled to commencement astatine 10.40am (AEST) connected Saturday.

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