Cover photo: ISA/Evans

Seven people, athletes, officials or organizers, tested positive for Covid 19 in more than approximately 700 tests carried out (564 had been carried out and 123 are mentioned), reported the International Surfing Association in a statement sent to the press on Saturday night.

Eighteen athletes and officials who were in quarantine were retested and the results were 18 negative and seven positive. Of those 11, seven were athletes and four were team officials.

“As a result, the ISA has implemented a policy to consider an appeal for reinstatement into competition from any athlete who has tested negative, on the condition that the athlete tests negative on another test prior to competing. Additional PCR testing will therefore be carried out on these 11 individuals,” the statement said.

An example of this was Venezuelan Rafael Pereira, who was quarantined but later tested negative and was able to compete, the Venezuelan federation reported on its Instagram.

Furthermore, it is reported that all contacts of the original 18 were retested, there were 123 competitors and officials and the results of all of these were negative.

“The ISA is taking these actions and publishing this information because it prioritizes the health and well-being of all athletes, officials and coaches at its events. We are also publishing this information for the purposes of integrity and transparency in the competition,” the statement added, ending by noting that it will not specify who the positives are.