SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015 SPORTS BRAZIL: A paratriathlete swims in the waters of Copacabana Beach during the Paralympic Triathlon test event in Rio de Janeiro. —AP For athletes, Olympic goals outweigh risks of Rio waters RIO DE JANEIRO: Athletes have been dismiss- Sunday’s triathlon test event in Rio. And the the local Olympic organizing committee, said intestinal and respiratory tracts of people. isn’t something that can be seen by the naked ing the dangers of swimming in Rio de test events provide a unique opportunity to that new, unpublished water test results show These are viruses that are known to cause res- eye. Although most athletes have been down- Janeiro’s dirty waters, saying the risks are not get to know the environment. “For me, the that the area is suitable for the competition, piratory and digestive illnesses, including playing the dangers of swimming on great enough to alter their Olympic plans. greater risk would be not knowing the but provided no details on the results. explosive diarrhea and vomiting, but can also Copacabana Beach, some teams have taken Despite a warning from a state environ- course,” said American paratriathlete Patricia On Thursday, The Associated Press released lead to more serious heart, brain and other dis- precautionary measures. mental agency that some Olympic venues are Walsh, who was getting familiarized with the the results of a five-month investigation that eases. Italian team doctor Stefano Righetti said unsafe, triathletes and paratriathletes entered venue that will be used in paratriathlon’s debut showed that Olympic venues are rife with dis- But most athletes say they are still being athletes went through probiotic therapy to the waters off Copacabana Beach Friday in an in the games next year. “For any athlete, get- ease-causing viruses and bacteria. told the venues are safe by officials in individ- protect them against some of the diseases area considered “unfit” for swimming. They’ll ting in the water, any water, has its own Extreme water pollution is common in ual sports, so there is no reason not to stick to they could get by going into the water. continue to compete this weekend in test amount of risk. If I didn’t do that, I think it Brazil, where the majority of sewage is not the program. Officials with the International According to American triathlete Tommy events for next year’s games. would be a greater risk than going in the treated. Raw waste runs through open-air Triathlon Union may consider pushing for Zaferes, team doctors said athletes could take “We know we are exposed to viruses, water.” ditches to streams and rivers that feed the expanded testing of Rio’s waters, said Shin “extra precautions” by taking antibiotics if maybe to health problems later,” Costa Rican The Rio de Janeiro environmental agency Olympic water sites. Otsuka, executive board member out of ITU. they wanted, but nobody on the team had triathlete Leonardo Chacon said. “But in my said the water was declared unfit based on the The AP study showed that the spot where Currently, tests evaluate bacteria, but not virus- taken the medication. “You can get sick any- case, I have invested so much to prepare results of a Monday water test. The same spot, athletes were entering the water on es. where, this is life,” Zaferes said. “The water myself for this and I want this to happen which is near where triathletes began swim- Copacabana Beach had a minimal reading of But the group is not suggesting athletes quality is bad in lots of places, it’s not really a because I can’t recuperate this investment any ming, has been declared unfit 10 previous over 2 million human adenovirus per liter - stay out of the water. Athletes said that the concern.” Most athletes said they were being other way other than competing and winning times this year alone. that’s 2,000 times the reading that water conditions of the water appeared better than careful with any open wounds they might the points that I need to win.” Officials publicly insisted athletes were safe experts in the US say would be considered they were expecting. But water experts and have, and were washing themselves thor- For many, the reason is simple. There will and stuck to the competition schedule. Later in highly alarming if seen on beaches in the US or the government’s own pollution monitoring oughly after leaving the water, but nothing be spots available for the 2016 Olympics in the day, Rodrigo Garcia, the sports director for Europe. Human adenovirus multiply in the officials all note that sewage pollution typically out of the ordinary.—AP England call up Plunkett, Footitt for fourth Test BIRMINGHAM: England have added time, having followed each of their three pace bowlers Liam Plunkett and Mark wins prior to their success at Edgbaston Footitt to a 14-man squad announced with a defeat since drawing their series yesterday for next week’s fourth Ashes opener against the West Indies in Test against Australia at Trent Bridge. Antigua in April. If they can follow-up a Yorkshire quick Plunkett, who played win at Edgbaston that was completed in the last of his 13 Tests against India in under three days with victory at Trent July 2014, and uncapped Derbyshire left- Bridge, England would regain the Ashes armer Footitt were included after spear- with a match to spare. head James Anderson was ruled out with But should their current trend contin- a side injury suffered during England’s ue, England will find themselves all eight-wicket win in the third Test at square at 2-2 heading into the series Edgbaston that put them 2-1 up in the finale at The Oval. five-match Ashes series. Trevor Bayliss, England’s recently- “With James Anderson missing this installed Australian coach, said: “The way Test through injury and some concerns the boys are playing at the moment is over Mark Wood’s workload in the build- very good. up to the last Test, we felt that bringing in “Obviously the challenge is to play as two extra bowlers in Liam Plunkett and well two games in a row,” the former Sri Mark Footitt was necessary,” said national Lanka and New South Wales coach, selector James Whitaker in an England speaking before the fourth Test squad and Wales Cricket Board statement. was announced, added. Anderson, England’s most successful “Apart from the three or four experi- Test bowler with 413 wickets, took an enced boys in this team, we have got a DHAKA: Bangladesh’s ground staff members pull covers on the field as it rains on the third day of the second cricket Test match between Ashes-best six for 47 in the first innings at reasonably young team.” England’s win at Bangladesh and South Africa. —AP Birmingham’s Edgbaston ground. Edgbaston was all the more impressive But Australia’s second innings saw given their mammoth 405-run loss to Anderson suffer a side strain which Australia in the second Test at Lord’s. Heavy rain washes out means he won’t be in the team when the “It’s a good sign they’re able to put fourth Test begins across the Midlands at that behind them, put it down to a bad Nottingham’s Trent Bridge on Thursday. performance, and they were very honest As well as calling up Plunkett-who might in the changing room afterwards,” said third day in Dhaka have played for England earlier in the Bayliss. England fourth Test squad: season but for being dropped for discipli- Adam Lyth (Yorkshire), Alastair Cook nary reasons by Yorkshire and has since (Essex, capt), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Joe DHAKA: No play was possible for the second consecutive taken just five wickets in two matches- Root (Yorkshire), Jonny Bairstow day in the second and final test between Bangladesh and SCOREBOARD and Footitt, England have also retained (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Jos South Africa as heavy rain washed out the entire third day’s Durham fast bowler Mark Wood in their Buttler (Lancashire, wkt), Moeen Ali play yesterday. (Worcestershire), Stuart Broad Scoreboard at stumps on the third day in the second and final Test between Bangladesh and South squad. Wood missed the Edgbaston vic- Heavy downpours ruined the entire second day’s play Africa yesterday in Mirpur, Bangladesh. tory with an ankle injury, his absence (Nottinghamshire), Mark Wood (Durham), on Friday leaving the hosts on 246 for eight after opting to paving the way for the recalled Steven Steven Finn (Middlesex), Liam Plunkett bat first at Mirpur’s Shere Bangla National Stadium. Bangladesh 1st innings (Overnight: 246-8) Extras (b-5 lb-11 nb-2) 18 (Yorkshire), Mark Footitt (Derbyshire), T. Iqbal c Amla b Steyn 6 Total (for 8 wickets, 88.1 overs) 246 Finn to take a Test-best six for 79 in The weather also intervened in the drawn first test in Adil I. Kayes lbw b Duminy 30 Fall of wickets: 1-12 T. Iqbal, 2-81 M. Haque, 3-86 I. Australia’s second innings in what was Rashid (Yorkshire). —AFP Chittagong with only 221 overs bowled as rain curtailed the Middlesex fast bowler’s first match at M. Haque c Vilas b Duminy 40 Kayes, 4-180 Mahmudullah, 5-215 M. Rahim, 6-220 play on the second and third days before washing out the Mahmudullah c Bavuma b Steyn 35 L. Das, 7-245 S. Al Hasan, 8-246 M. Shahid. this level since 2013. last two days. M. Rahim c Vilas b Elgar 65 To bat: M.