7 October 2010
Commonwealth Games organisers launched an investigation into the water quality at the troubled event's pool on Thursday after reports that over 50 swimmers had fallen ill.
Around 40 English competitors and 12 Australians had complained of feeling unwell after competing at the S.P. Mukherjee Aquatics Complex, with team officials insisting that the problem area was the warm-up pool.
"We must investigate this immediately. If the water is unsafe then clearly you can't swim in it," said Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell. "Water and food quality is tested. We are concerned if athletes can't perform to their best."
Stomach problems being experienced by swimmers have already forced two Australian medal prospects to pull out. Olympic bronze medallists Andrew Lauterstein and Hayden Stoeckel failed to start in the 100m butterfly and 100m backstroke heats because of "gastro" problems, a team spokesman told AFP. Illness forced the much-fancied Lauterstein to miss the 50m butterfly final on Wednesday.
Teammate Geoff Huegill, who won silver, said he was upset to hear he had withdrawn and had hoped his friend was well enough to compete on Thursday. But he told reporters: "We got here today and he went straight from the bus to the bathroom."
England's 100m butterfly specialist Michael Rock also said he had been suffering from stomach problems. A Canada swimming spokesman said several team members were also suffering from minor complaints but England duo Rebecca Adlington and Fran Halsall had recovered and were cleared to compete, Team England said. Halsall on Wednesday blamed "Delhi belly" for her failure to qualify for the 100m butterfly final after she took gold in the 50m sprint a day earlier. She appeared to have recovered and eased into the 50m freestyle semi-finals as fastest qualifier.
Source: Breitbart.
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