Update -
Members of the Australian track and field team in the Tokyo Olympic Village have been cleared to return to their regular routines after earlier isolating in their rooms as a precautionary measure.
The all-clear comes after three members of the team underwent PCR testing following a brief casual contact with a US track and field athlete who had tested positive to COVID 19.
All three tested negative after undergoing a PCR Test this afternoon, while teammates remained in their rooms in line with AOC COVID protocols.
The three, who are all vaccinated, self-reported once they heard news of the US athlete testing positive late this morning. All daily tests of the trio in the Village had also returned negative results.
All members of the Australian Team at the Tokyo Games are tested daily.
Fifty four (54) members of the track and field team (41 athletes and 13 officials) were later given permission to leave after spending a little over two hours in their rooms.
The three team members tested this afternoon are now in isolation and will be tested daily. They will be allowed to resume training, subject to strict protocols that restricts their contact with others. At this stage all athletes are expected to compete as planned.
Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman says the protocols put into place by the AOC ahead of the Games have proved valuable in managing the situation.
“Once again, abundant caution and our strict protocols continue to keep the Team safe. We will continue to be very thorough in our observance of the Tokyo playbooks and our own additional measures.
“We want every Australian athlete to be in a position to have their Olympic moment. We will continue to be vigilant,” Mr Chesterman concluded.
Earlier -
Australia's Track and Field team have been thrown into chaos after being forced to isolate in the athlete's village.
Just one day before the athletics competition begins, the Australian Olympic Committee has forced members of the athletics team to isolate in the village.
A member of the team, pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall came in contact with a positive case.
Channel 7's Chris Reason said that after coming into contact with an American pole vaulter, the decision was made to isolate the entire athletics squad.
"A message has come to our Track and Field athletes who were out training at various venues including the national stadium," said Reason.
"They got a message saying they had to return immediately to the athlete's village to get out of where they were to isolate themselves in their rooms until further notice.
"We believe this is connected to an outbreak we believe is connected to the US team
"We know that pole vault champion Sam Kendricks, a US star and a real medal chance at these Games has tested positive.
"It's believed he was potentially training with the Aussie star, Kurtis Marschall, our pole vault champion.
"Kurtis was told to go straight back. Kurtis was working with the rest of the team so the AOC have decided to take the entire Track and Field team and isolate them until further notice."
.@ChrisReason7 with the latest information as Australia's athletics team goes into lockdown 👇#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/AagXosTylm
— 7Olympics (@7olympics) July 29, 2021
The Men's pole vault begins on Saturday.
A statement from the AOC confirmed that the members of the team will undergo PCR tests which should return results with a couple of hours.
"Members of Australia’s track and field team at the Tokyo Olympic Games are isolating in their rooms as a precautionary measure following news of a COVID positive finding with a member of the US track and field team," the statement read.
"Members of the Australian track and field team are now undergoing testing procedures in line with Australian Olympic Team protocols."
The entire Australian Track and Field team is 62 athletes, after race-walker Dane Bird-Smith withdrew from the Games just before flying to Tokyo. It is not yet confirmed how many of the team are in isolation.
A statement from Team USA confirmed that Kendricks has tested positive to COVID-19.
(2/3) In alignment with local rules and protocols, he has been transferred to a hotel to be placed in isolation and is being supported by the USATF and USOPC staff.
— USOPC News (@USOPC_News) July 29, 2021
"We are saddened to confirm that Sam Kendricks tested positive for COVID-19 and will not compete in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020," the statement read.
The Australian Track and Field team has already been through a COVID-19 scare before leaving for Tokyo.
A staff member had an inconclusive test that later came back negative in Cairns at the group's training camp.
More to come.
