CHANDIGARH: A couple of days after the government allowed resumption of outdoor training inside the
national camps
, the
Athletics Federation of India
(
AFI
) on Tuesday came up with a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the elite track and field athletes to resume training in Patiala and Bengaluru.
The federation has also stated that the re-opening of training facilities including outdoor training and weight training will be as per the programme schedule circulated by the chief coach. The revised guidelines have been made mandatory for athletes as well as coaching and support staff who will be part of the training camp.
Besides the ban on birthday celebrations and visit to barbers or beauty parlours, some of the other major points included in the guidelines include a ban on sauna or ice baths, interaction with outsiders, and hugs.
"Any coach or athlete not following the advisory of
athletics
federation on schedule of training will be asked to stop the training immediately by supervisors," the guidelines warned.
As part of the guidelines, athletes have been asked to leave their room just five minutes before their scheduled training. The athletes have also been asked to return to their room immediately as the training gets over.
"Rush back to your hostel room as soon as your training is over and do not hang around in groups. Athletes are not allowed to train in any group or time other than scheduled by AFI," the guidelines read.
The AFI has also recommended all athletes to use disposable gloves, besides urging the athletes to not go for training if they are showing any sort of symptoms of Covid-19. The federation has also asked all the coaches to ensure social distancing between athletes during training.
"Practice caution with the equipment. Sanitize all handheld implements prior to and after use e.g. shots, javelins, discus etc. Although there is no specific evidence that equipment can spread Covid-19, we know that contamination from respiratory droplets from an infected person can potentially survive on hard surfaces for up to three days," the guidelines read.
The AFI also prohibited any travel outside the camps and advised the campers to download the government's Aarogya Setu app for tracking Covid-19 cases near them as well as assessing their own health from time to time.
"The athletes will also not allowed to leave the camps and any leave from the camp can only be sanctioned by the AFI President or Chairman Planning. Athletes leaving the camp, visiting their homes or any other places outside campus must go through 14-days of quarantine before re-joining the camp," the guidelines read.
While the ministry has not yet set a date for athletes to be able to restart training, which has come to a complete halt since the lockdown was enforced on March 25, sports minister
Kiren Rijiju had on Monday said that sports activities will be conducted in sports complexes and stadia strictly in accordance with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines and that of the states in which they are situated.
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