Team SA suffer CWG withdrawals

Team South Africa have announced the withdrawal of at least three athletes on Day 4 of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

South Africa have done reasonably well at the Games so far, as they occupy fifth spot on the medals table with a tally of six golds, three silvers and four bronzes.

With the track and field events starting on Tuesday, the country's medal hopes have taken a knock with sprinters Clarence Munyai, Emile Erasmus and Kyle Rademeyer having to withdraw from the event after testing positive for Covid-19.

"Team SA™s track and field athletes have been affected by a number of withdrawals which has affected the schedule. Three key athletes, Clarence Munyai, Emile Erasmus (both sprinters) and Kyle Rademeyer (pole vault), have all been withdrawn from the team after contracting Covid-19," read a statement from Sascoc.

The withdrawal of Munyai and Erasmus means the Men's 4x100m Relay team, who were among the favourites to bag a medal, will not be able to participate.

A fourth athlete could potentially miss out with 400m sprinter Zakhiti Nene showing symptoms and Team SA advising that he will be retested on Tuesday.

"The upshot is that Team SA is unlikely to be able to field a 4x100m men™s relay team, an event in which they were one of the medal favourites," read the statement.

"Defending Commonwealth Games 100m champion, Akani Simbine, is fit and healthy and will begin his campaign today.

"Another Team SA star, Zakhiti Nene, also has symptoms and will be retested today."

By Web Admin