PSC tells NSA to test athletes

National sports associations (NSA) leaders should intensify their training program to make sure that the coronavirus pandemic would not affect the training and preparation of athletes heading for major tournaments.

Sports commissioner Ramon Fernandez yesterday said the health and safety of the athletes should be on top of the priority of sports executives, especially now that the country is facing yet another massive surge of coronavirus infections.

The deadly pulmonary disease that had infected thousands of Filipinos had already crept into the national team.

In an exclusive Daily Tribune report last Wednesday, a canoe athlete and his coach tested positive on 6 April, days before they left for the 2021 Canoe Slalom Asian Championship set from 30 April to 7 May in Thailand.

The Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation (PCKF) asked its national team members to undergo another test last Thursday, but the athlete and the coach stayed positive, prompting it to call off its participation and kiss its chances of making it to the Tokyo Olympics goodbye. Aside from the paddlers, there are also reported cases in athletics and gymnastics.

Fernandez said it’s about time for NSA leaders to start monitoring their athletes.

“I think they should be doing it,” said Fernandez, also the country’s chief of mission to the 31st Southeast Asian Games.

“They should take care of their athletes. It should be personal to them.”

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has been encouraging NSA leaders to subject their athletes to Covid-19 testing.

They should take care of their athletes. It should be personal to them.

In fact, in a memo released in March, the government sports agency announced that all members of the national pool would be given free RT-PCR testing at the mega swabbing facility inside the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

A PSC source said very few athletes, coaches and NSA officials availed the free testing.

“We have been asking them to undergo testing since March,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“But very few showed up to avail the free testing.”

Fernandez, for his part, said strict monitoring among NSA leaders should be the key in fighting the dreaded virus within the national team.

“If the athletes feel something and they want to get tested, then NSA should take care of their athletes,” Fernandez said.

“That’s why we always keep on reminding the athletes to stay at home and strictly follow safety protocols.”