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Van Niekerk contracts COVID-19

Published:Friday | July 31, 2020 | 5:02 PM
VAN NIEKERK
VAN NIEKERK

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport is reporting that South African 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Van Niekerk learnt of the result while quarantined in Gemona del Friuli, Italy where his training camp for the European season is based. He had arrived in the country on July 19 and was preparing to compete in the 100m and 400m events at the Triveneto Meeting Internazionale Trieste on Saturday.

Van Niekerk won gold at the Rio Olympics four years ago while running from lane eight in the 400m final, and setting a world record time of 43.03 seconds.

The 28-year-old had spent a lengthy time out of action before this season, having suffered an injury during a celebrity touch rugby match in October 2017.