Concerned on the rising variety of athletes contracting COVID-19 at high coaching centres, the Indian Olympic Association has requested the authorities to expedite the method to get the Olympic-bound athletes get vaccinated quickly on the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) right here.
Thirty sports activities individuals and assist workers throughout disciplines returned optimistic after 741 precautionary checks have been performed on the National Centres of Excellence in Patiala and Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Even although the optimistic leads to each the centres don’t embrace any Tokyo Olympic-bound athlete, the IOA doesn’t need to take probabilities as they’re coaching on the similar services.
“We are concerned at the athletes testing positive for COVID-19 though all the Olympic-bound athletes are safe. But we have to vaccinate them as soon as possible. We have written twice to health ministry in this regard but no headway till now,” IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta advised PTI.
“So, we already have two rounds of discussion with the AIIMS Resident Doctors’ Association General Secretary (Dr. Rajeev Ranjan). He said the athletes can start vaccination. So, I am writing to AIIMS Director on Friday to hasten the process,” he added.
Mehta had in February written to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, requesting him to think about vaccinating the Tokyo Olympics-bound athletes on a precedence foundation to give them adequate time earlier than leaving for the Games.
Around 80 Indian athletes have to date certified for the Olympics, which can be held from July 23 to August 8 after being postponed final 12 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mehta can be writing to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) relating to this plan to vaccinate the Olympic-bound athletes on the recommendation of IOA chief Narinder Batra, in order that there isn’t any complication afterward.
“IOA President felt that we should always take clearance from the WADA in order that there isn’t any problem afterward, as a result of we’re injecting one thing although it’s a vaccine. He can be an IOC member and is aware of the principles and rules.
“So, I am also writing to the WADA on Friday that we are going to vaccinate the Olympic-bound athletes. We are hoping to get response from the WADA as soon as possible and also from the AIIMS so that we can start vaccinating the Olympic-bound athletes.”
The coronavirus caseload has been on the rise within the nation with greater than 70,000 new infections reported within the nation on Thursday.
