NOAH Lyles reportedly ran the 200m race while sick with Covid-19.
Lyles suffered a shocking loss in the 200m sprint, an event he was a favorite to win gold in.
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Lyles still put in a sub-20 second time in the event, and four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson said he couldn’t have an injury with that time.
“He certainly isn’t carrying an injury because you can’t do this with an injury, you can’t run 19.70,” he said on the BBC.
“If there’s anything, there’s some sort of illness that has zapped his energy from the ability to actually carry that speed all the way through.
“[The medics] would’ve given him the OK to race, he’s probably not in danger of anything by racing other than being 100 percent and able to perform the way that he would want to.”
Lyles wasn’t injured, but he was sick. US Track and Field confirmed to the BBC that Lyles ran the race with Covid, affecting his ability to run.
“We’ve been told by US Track and Field that Noah Lyles has got Covid,” BBC anchor Gabby Logan said after the race.
Lyles finished in third place behind Letsile Tobago of Botswana and American Kenny Bednarek.
He collapsed to the ground after running his race, and was quickly attended to by a medibal team.
Lyles was eventually taken out of the stadium in a wheelchair before it was confirmed that he had Covid.
The 100m gold medal-winner disappointed fans by coming in third for the 200m race, but many more were shocked that he was allowed to run in his condition.
“Why did they let him race?” one fan said.
“Why the hell was Noah Lyles competing when he knew he had Covid?” another fan said.
“Seems a bit reckless if USATF knew Lyles had Covid before he raced,” a third fan said.
“If Lyles has COVID why is he allowed to compete?” a fourth fan said.
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“Lyles had covid?? I don’t think he’d have beat Tebogo regardless,” a fifth fan said.
Lyles is slated to compete in the 4×100 race for Team USA, but it is possible they reconsider his involvement based on his illness.
The men’s 4×100 final is on Friday, and his performance on Thursday won’t be promising for their gold medal aspirations.
During an appearance on NBC following his race, Lyles said himself that he likely won’t participate in the race.
He is likely done competing for the rest of the Paris Olympics.
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