COVID derails Noah Lyles' bid for sprint double: 'I believe this will be the end of my 2024 Olympics'

SAINT-DENIS, France — At 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning, Noah Lyles woke up with a wicked sore throat, an aching body and the chills.

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The test came back positive, throwing Lyles’ historic pursuit of an Olympic sprint double into chaos two days before Thursday night’s men’s 200 final. Lyles quarantined in a hotel near the Olympic Village, tried to get as much rest and fluids as he could and took any medication he could without violating anti-doping rules.

The idea of not competing in the 200 never was something that Lyles seriously considered, especially after he managed to advance to the final by gutting out a second-place finish in his semifinal heat on Wednesday. Lyles explained that he “still wanted to run” and that doctors gave him permission to try.

Right from the start of Thursday’s final, it was obvious that the world’s most unbeatable 200 runner didn’t have his usual burst. The American fell behind early and struggled to make up ground after rounding the turn, leaving himself too far back of Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and fellow American Kenny Bednarek to overtake either of them before they reached the finish line.

https://sports.yahoo.com/covid-derails-noah-lyles-bid-for-sprint-double-i-believe-this-will-be-the-end-of-my-2024-olympics-183515628.html