Noah Lyles’ decision to race with Covid-19 was a risky one, experts say

CNN —

US sprinter Noah Lyles’ admission that he raced in the men’s 200 meters at the Paris Olympics on Thursday after testing positive for Covid-19 has reignited a familiar debate: whether it’s OK to treat Covid like any other respiratory infection.

The Games’ organizers, the Paris 2024 committee, said in a statement Friday that there are no specific Covid protocols in place this year. Instead, they are reminding everyone attending the Games of “good practices to adopt should they experience any respiratory symptoms.” Those include wearing a mask in the presence of others, limiting contacts and regularly washing hands or using hand sanitizer.

PARIS, FRANCE — AUGUST 08: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was captured using a robotic camera positioned above the field of play.) Bronze medalist Noah Lyles of Team United States reacts after competing in the Men's 200m Final on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 08, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Related article American sprinter Noah Lyles says he tested positive for Covid-19, ran 200-meter race anyway

The committee said each national Olympic committee and the International Olympic Federation is also free to put in place additional measures for its athletes or competitions, but few have chosen to do so. Instead, the decision about whether to compete has largely been left up to the athletes themselves.

A least one bioethicist said it’s not conscionable to leave the decision up to the athletes, many of whom have trained for years for a chance to compete on the world stage.

“They will all say yes,” said Dr. Art Caplan, head of the Division of Medical Ethics at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine.

“The