Organisers to inquire into pool-related illness

Thu, Oct 07 10 12:22 PM

New Delhi, October 7 (PTI) Amid reports that the Commonwealth Games swimming pool in Delhi may be contaminated, the organisers were today left red-faced with the ''Big Two'' Michael Fennell and Suresh Kalmadi promising an inquiry and a solution by today. Addressing the media in the daily interaction at the MPC today, Commonwealth Games Federation president Fennell said they were investigating the case, though they were yet to get any specific report from the teams about illness. "We are ensuring that the water quality is tested. We don''t have specific reports about illnes. We must find this out immediately. we have to deal with it. It needs some urgency," he said, while responding to a query whether they would postpone the day''s finals. Asked whether water at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Acquatics Complex was contaminated, Fennell said: "Let''s not speculate. We are concenered if the athletes were not well. These are being investigated, though we are yet to get specific reports from swimming." According to reports, almost two thirds of the British swimming squad have been hit hard by a "Delhi belly", with leading English swimmer Francesca Halsall falling ill during an event that she was tipped to win. Halsall slipped to third place in the final of the 100 meters freestyle and could only come 10th in the 100 metres butterfly semi-final as she started to faint in the pool after the race. Team doctor Ian Gordon said: "It is hygiene-related." The Aussies are not spared either with a dozen swimmers including several international stars have fallen ill after stomach bug with the water at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Acquatics Complex being blamed. Notably, Australians Andrew Lauterstein and Hayden Stoeckel pulled out of their respective heats this morning because of stomach bugs as Australian chef de mission Steve Moneghetti said pool water could be a "possible" reason. PTI TAP MRM

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