National Team Faces Cluster Infection Emergency... What Happened to the Fencing Team? (Comprehensive)

Three Female ?p?e Fencers Returning from European International Competition Test Positive for COVID-19
Additional Cases Possible Among Accompanying Athletes
Sports Community Anxious Ahead of Tokyo Olympics

Image source=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The domestic sports community has been gripped by fears of a cluster infection after three female national fencing team athletes who participated in an international competition held in Europe tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). There are concerns about schedule disruptions as the selection of athletes for the Tokyo Summer Olympics must proceed.

According to Taean County in Chungnam Province and quarantine authorities on the 19th, female ?p?e national team member A tested positive after undergoing a diagnostic test at the screening clinic of Taean County Health and Medical Center on the afternoon of the 18th. This athlete had traveled to Taean for a one-night, two-day trip starting on the 17th with an acquaintance. Upon hearing that teammate B had tested positive the previous day in Ulsan, she underwent testing in the area. On the same day, female ?p?e national team member C was also confirmed positive in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. As of the morning of that day, a total of three confirmed cases among fencing national team athletes were identified.

All of them participated in the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Grand Prix held in Budapest, Hungary, from the 7th to the 9th and returned to Korea on the 15th. They were originally scheduled to compete in the World Cup event set to be held there from the 20th, but the FIE suspended all international competitions for a month due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19, prompting their return to Korea. Afterward, they took a one-week vacation combined with self-quarantine and subsequently learned of their infections one after another.

An official from the Korea Fencing Federation stated, "All team members underwent diagnostic tests before departure, and the results were negative," adding, "It appears they were infected through event officials or other national teams while staying abroad." Both male and female athletes who traveled to the European competition with the confirmed cases, as well as the entire fencing national team, have undergone diagnostic testing and are currently in self-quarantine. Additional cases may emerge among the remaining tested individuals.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee are requiring athletes preparing for the Tokyo Olympics to undergo COVID-19 testing and submit documentation confirming a 'negative' result when returning to the Jincheon National Training Center after competitions or outings, considering the safety of the representative athletes.

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