Covid-19 and sport: Are elite athletes at risk of returning to action too soon?
While athletes hate being out of action, especially ahead of major events, the Covid-19 pandemic leads us to wonder whether we are in haste to have our sportspersons back in action. Does an athlete, who contracts the virus, face the risk of returning to the sport too early?
In Short
- Despite the resumption of professional sport last year, the risk of athletes contracting the virus persists
- Are elite athletes at the risk of returning to action too soon after contracting virus?
- India Today spoke to experts to find out the answer
Professional sport at the highest level is not as rosy as it looks and the Covid-19 pandemic has made it that much more difficult. "The show must go on," they say. But it's not easy to be part of the show amid the pandemic.
Sport is no longer just about on-field performances. It's a big industry upon which the livelihoods of millions rely. When the pandemic brought everything to a grinding halt, the various moving parts of the sporting industry took a big blow. That is why professional sport inching back towards normalcy is certainly welcome news.
However, a pertinent question arises now. Are we putting our elite athletes at risk? The world is no more the same. With the aid of technology, the focus has been on limiting exposure and finding safer ways to keep the show running. But the majority of the athletes don't seem to have that option. They can't be working from home, can they?
India's celebrated shuttler Saina Nehwal on Tuesday tested positive for Covid-19 hours before her Thailand Open match in Bangkok, the Badminton World Federation said before it emerged that the positive test was false. Notably, the London Olympic bronze medallist had tested positive for the virus as recently as December 2020.
Despite the resumption of professional sport last year, the risk of athletes contracting the virus persists.
Some professional athletes, who have tested positive, have returned to action within weeks. Their recovery is perhaps quicker than a layperson. But they can still be career-limiting complications. Sequelae (a consequence of a previous disease) of Covid-19 can lead to a long-term decrease in physical performance capacity, according to a study by British Journal of Sports Medicine.
6 weeks of recovery
Dr. Nisith Ranjan Chowdhury, a member of Medical Committee of Badminton World Federation, told indiatoday.in on Tuesday if an athlete shows symptoms of Covid-19, he or she should be extra cautious before returning to action. Asymptomatic people can return to action shortly after testing negative, according to him.
"In case of symptomatic people, 6 weeks of recovery is essential before getting back to training. After recovering from Covid-19, the athlete should undergo extensive diagnostic testing before resuming activities. The player should allow their body to make sure that it can fight against infections before returning to action," Dr. Chowhury said.
Players with pre-existing conditions like heart ailments and asthma should be cautious as there can be long-term consequences, he added.
Mental recovery key
He also pointed out that the importance of the mental recovery of athletes. Players are subjected to quarantine on tour and the process of adhering to protocols and testing regimes can be rigorous. Bio-bubbles, created to ensure the safety of players and other stakeholders at major tournaments, can be taxing.
"Focus should also be on the mental well-being of athletes who test positive for the virus. Contracting the virus can make the athlete worry about recovery and it can lead to stress and anxiety. Athletes often wonder if they would be able to return to the pre-existing level of performance. But complete recovery can easily help them do so," Dr. Chowdhury said.
Return to peak fitness
Meanwhile, Chinmoy Roy, former assistant fitness trainer of the senior India cricket team, cites the examples of the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Lewis Hamilton to explain the complexities involved in returning to action. Roy stresses that athletes returning to indoor sports should be more careful, considering the lack of natural ventilation.
"For the asymptomatic sportspersons, we have now about four big names -- Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Paulo Dybala, and Lewis Hamilton --- who had Covid-19 and it was never a threat for them," Roy said.
"Take the case of Ronaldo. Ronaldo who was asymptomatic and tested positive, his Instagram posts flashed pictures of him cycling and doing push-ups while being in isolation. Even after a mandatory 14-day quarantine, Ronaldo again tested positive. His ordeal got over after 3 weeks. And during this whole period, he trained, of course, under the guidance of his doctor. On return to Serie A, Ronaldo was the same symbol of fitness for which he is revered.
"Ronaldo could do all the training and made a lightning return to the sport because he had no immune suppressing issue like diabetes, BP or cholesterol or any lung disorder. Also because of his elite fitness level, his immune system is supercharged with the antibodies in a proactive mode to catch hold of any infection.
"Lewis Hamilton made a comeback within 2 weeks and so did Neymar with their fitness and performance unaffected. All these sports persons were thoroughly screened before they hit the ground."
'Better to be safe than sorry'
Roy summarised that post-Covid-19 return to sport for athletes who were asymptomatic is easier than for the ones who showed symptoms.
"It's better to be safe than sorry," Roy said.
"An upper respiratory tract infection with Covid but without any other symptom is something with which you can train in quarantine. But if you have a lung infection and fever, you must rest completely. Period.
"Having metabolic issues like Diabetes, BP or cholesterol and fever means a red flag. Having chronic asthma or COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is an equally serious issue. Sportspersons who fall in this group have the greatest risk," Roy said.