Turkish national water polo team disqualified after 5 athletes test COVID positive

The Turkish national water polo team was disqualified from the Tokyo Olympics elimination rounds on Feb. 14 after five athletes tested positive for COVID-19. The athletes reportedly tested negative in the tests conducted before their departure from Turkey.

Monday February 15 2021 10:08 am

Duvar English

Five athletes on the Turkish national water polo team tested positive for COVID-19 during elimination rounds for the Tokyo Olympics, disqualifying the country from the competition on Feb. 14.

"Five of our athletes, unfortunately, tested positive for COVID-19. We weren't allowed to play," Turkish Water Polo Federation Chair Vedat Akgün said.

The 13-player team was traveling in a group of 17 people, all of whom tested negative before boarding the plane in Turkey, Akgün added.

"The entire group is in lockdown in their hotel," Akgün said. "We requested an air ambulance for the kids who tested positive."

The water polo team has been at camp together for the past 15 days and would have played their first game on Feb. 14.