Athletes to ‘opt in’ to return to training

GUIDANCE on how elite athletes can safely return to training has been issued by funding body UK Sport, with its chief executive Sally Munday insisting ultimately the decision on when to resume is a “personal one” for the competitors themselves.

The protocols have been put together following consultation involving athletes, coaches, chief medical officers, chief executives, performance and operations directors across a range of Olympic, Paralympic and other professional sports.

The guidance is designed to allow each sport to make a risk assessment on when it is safe for training to resume, with Munday accepting that sports will differ greatly on when they can achieve that.

Munday said: “The choice to return to training is also a personal one.

“Every sport is different and everyone’s personal circumstances are different and whilst clearly there are many who are keen to return to training as soon as possible, there are those who will have genuine concerns or personal circumstances that make this challenging.

“As always, we are urging all sports to continue to make the welfare of athletes and staff their number one priority.

“We are therefore asking all sports to work through the guidance carefully, to give confidence to both athletes and support staff that they can ‘opt in’ to any return to training safely. Ultimately, the decision on when to return to organised training must be taken by each sport, in conjunction with relevant training facility providers, understanding all of the complexities and intricacies of individual sports.”

Government guidance on the phased return to training for elite sports means all watersports, including sailing, windsurfing and kiteboarding, are now allowed in England.