Olympics viewers have been left baffled at the decision to allow US athlete Noah Lyles to run in the men's 200m final just two days after testing positive for the coronavirus.
Lyles, 27, was the standout star of the men's 100m race earlier in the week, bagging himself a gold medal in a nail bitingly close win over Jamaica's Kishane Thompson on Sunday (4 August).
However, the US runner would be less fortunate during yesterday's (8 August) 200m final, earning third place on the podium behind winner Letsile Tebogo and second placed Kenny Bednarek.
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Despite the setback in Lyles' dream to become the fastest man since Usain Bolt to win both Olympic sprint titles being over, his performance is still seriously impressive when you take into consideration the fact that he tested positive for Covid just two days before the final took place.
The news was confirmed by a statement from the USA track and field federation just minutes after the race ended, with there being no other indication that the US star was unwell beforehand.
A clearly exhausted Lyles could later be seen leaving the track with the assistance of a wheelchair.
"Seems a bit stupid to me that Noah Lyles still ran in the 200m final with Covid," one person wrote on X, while others questioned how he was able to complete such an energetic pre-match walkout while unwell.
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"Dear NBC track commentators: THERE IS NOTHING GUTSY OR COURAGEOUS ABOUT NOAH LYLES COMPETING WITH COVID," another horrified viewer penned.
"I think the words you were searching for are 'selfish' and 'arrogant'. Perhaps even 'reckless'. He hugged the Tobogo after the race."
The US star was visibly exhausted afterwards. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Why was Noah Lyles able to compete?
Under the stricter rules of Tokyo 2020, Lyles would have been forced into isolation and unable to compete in the race. However there are no specific Covid protocols in Paris, which means it's down to individual athletes to determine whether or not they can compete.
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The US team went on to add that their Olympic and Paralympic Committee had made sure to adhere to all guidelines.
The statement read: "We swiftly enacted all necessary protocols to prioritise his health, the wellbeing of our team, and the safety of fellow competitors.
"Our primary commitment is to ensure the safety of Team USA athletes while upholding their right to compete. After a thorough medical evaluation, Noah chose to compete. We respect his decision and will continue to monitor his condition closely.
"As an organisation, we are rigorously adhering to CDC [Centres for Disease Control and Prevention], USOPC [United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee], and IOC [International Olympic Committee] guidelines for respiratory illnesses to prevent the spread of illness among team members, safeguarding their health and performance."
Is this the end of Lyles' Olympics?
Lyles had previously planned to compete in tonight's (9 August) 4x100m relay and tomorrow's (10 August) 4x400m, however the athlete has since revealed on Instagram that last night was the 'end of my 2024 Olympics'.
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Competing in the race had clearly been difficult for Lyles, who revealed afterwards the he felt 'quite light-headed' after finishing.
"It definitely affected my performance. I’ve had to take a lot of breaks… I was coughing through the night," he said.
"I’m more proud of myself than anything, coming out here to get a bronze with Covid."
Brenna Cooper