UK Athletics and the British Olympic Association have confirmed they are investigating after an athlete claimed to have tampered with a PCR test in order to return to the UK after an international event.
Runner Andrew Butchart, who was selected for the GB team in Tokyo, reportedly told a podcast that he falsified an old PCR test result when checking in at an airport because his results did not reach on time.
In one episode, which has now been deleted, he told The Sunday Plodcast how “boring” he finds the tests and protocols when traveling overseas to compete.
“Everyone rigged the PCR tests, I’m sure, to try to get somewhere, because it’s so difficult,” he said.
The Times reports that the 29-year-old said: “I’m not going to get in trouble with the police or anything like that.”
But now UK Athletics has confirmed to Sky News that the suggestion that Butchart rigged a test was taken “very seriously”.
In a statement, he said: “UKA and BOA are aware of comments made on a podcast by a selected athlete today.
“Throughout the pandemic, elite sport has had the privilege of benefiting from exemptions from various guidelines to allow athletes to continue to train and compete.
“We take very seriously any suggestion that an athlete has not properly followed these guidelines and violated COVID-related protocols.
“Accordingly, this selection will be the subject of further investigation by UK Athletics. No further comments will be made until this investigation is completed.”
Previously, Butchart, from Dunblane in Scotland, told The Times he “never rigged a test” and then issued his own statement to clarify his comments.
“I have never tampered with a PCR test and have always followed the guidelines of the countries I have traveled to.”
He added…
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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-06-29 13:00:00
