Marathon runners face a twin threat
New Delhi – Top doctors have warned elite runners are taking a major health risk by competing in tomorrow’s New Delhi half-marathon in the midst of a major coronavirus outbreak and soaring air pollution.
Women’s marathon world record-holder Brigid Kosgei from Kenya and Ethiopia’s twotime men’s winner Andamlak Belihu are among the 49 elite athletes running the 21-kilometre race, while thousands of amateurs are taking part virtually.
Organisers say the “highest level of safety-standards, with bio-secure zones” have been laid on for the race, starting at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
But with New Delhi recording more than 500 000 virus cases, and air quality in the world’s most polluted capital hovering between “unhealthy” and “hazardous”, health experts said the athletes should think twice.
“It will be suicidal for runners to run the race this time. We have such high levels of pollution, we have the risk of coronavirus, In this case there is also the presence of a twin threat,” said Arvind Kumar, founder trustee of the Lung Care Foundation. –