Guwahati News Desk: Just one day prior to the time trial at Tokyo Olympics, Spain’s men’s cycling team coach, Pascual Momparler, tested Covid positive on Tuesday.
It was the Spanish Olympic Committee who confirmed the news, by saying, “A member of the technical direction of the Spanish cycling team at the Tokyo Olympic Games has tested positive for coronavirus.”
After receiving the positive results, Momparler was immediately sent into quarantine, and is currently isolated in a hotel in Tokyo.
Momparler is the second member of the team’s technical staff to return a positive test result after Joseba Eguezabal, one of the team’s masseurs, who tested positive on July 23.
According to sources, although the health protocols in Tokyo stipulate that anyone in “close contact” with anyone who tests positive has to go into isolation, but Spain’s men’s team was allowed to compete after taking further PCR tests and giving negative results.
The sources further stated, that the Spanish coach will have to remain isolated and follow the protocols before heading to Spain.
Meanwhile, it will be Ion Izagirre Insausti, who will be representing Spain in Wednesday’s time trial, and it is not yet known whether the Basque cyclist’s participation in the race will be affected.