Swine flu in Martial Arts Games

Bangkok: The swine flu pandemic has made an appearance in the on-going 1st Martial Arts Games here with a

male athlete testing positive for the H1N1 virus. But the name and nationality of the athlete, who is recovering well in a hospital in Suphan Buri -- one of the venue for the Games, has not been disclosed by the Olympic Council of Asia to avoid panic among the participating countries. Dr Jegathesan, Chairman of the OCA`s Medical Committee, said yesterday that there was nothing to worry as it is just a one-off case and all precautions have been taken by the organisers for the Games which concludes on Sunday. Dr Jegathesan also said they have conducted anti-doping pre-competition tests on 76 athletes and all have been negative so far. "Our testing programme will continue in the same stringent way to the end of the Games," he said. "The Olympic Council of Asia is highly appreciative of the efforts being made by the medical and anti-doping sub-committees of Bangkok Asian Martial Games Organising Committee (BAMAGOC) in conducting the above programmes in an official and successful manner. This will be on-going throughout the Games," he added. Bureau Report