The probe into allegations of official apathy levelled by Olympian marathon runner OP Jaisha has been delayed as the athlete is recovering from Swine Flu and will need at least a week's rest.
Jaisha, who returned from Rio with fever and body ache last week, was hospitalised on Thursday after she tested positive for H1N1, two days after another athlete Sudha Singh was found to be suffering from the same disease.
"Jaisha has been hospitalised for H1N1 and at this point in time, the athlete will not be allowed to travel. She needs rest for at least six to seven days," Sports Authority of India's Dr Sarla told PTI here.
Since Jaisha is not permitted to travel, the probe into the allegations of official apathy levelled by her will be delayed. The committee, which was formed Tuesday, was supposed to submit its report in seven days from the date of its formation.
Sports Minister Vijay Goel had constituted a two-member committee consisting of Onkar Kedia, Joint Secretary (Sports) and Vivek Narayan, Director (Sports) to enquire into the allegations.
Jaisha, who had finished 89th in the marathon event, had alleged that no water or energy drinks were made available by the Indian officials during her event, leaving her completely exhausted at the end of the race. She had fainted after crossing the finishing line.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI), however, has asserted that the athlete herself refused any such arrangement when approached a day before the event.
Jaisha, after returning from Brazil, claimed that officials from all other countries provided refreshments to their runners at designated points set up every 2.5 km.
Meanwhile, Jaisha, who returned from Rio Olympics with fever and body ache last week, has been hospitalised after she tested positive for H1N1.
"Jaisha, who arrived in Bengaluru with fever and body ache, has been hospitalised at the Fortis hospital at Bannerghatta, as per the information I had received so far from SAI doctors," Sports Authority of India Regional director Shyam Sunder said.
It was an "arduous task" for SAI authorities to convince her to get her blood samples tested at the state-run Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD).
She, however, agreed to give her blood samples for testing on Thursday after the state health officials convinced her, Sunder said.
"It was an arduous task to convince Jaisha to get her blood samples tested at the virology institute. She ignored our counselling and moved out of the SAI premises on August 21 after applying for leave," he said.
Instead of heading straight to her native state Kerala, Jaisha stayed in Bengaluru and until Thursday, she was not physically available to the health and SAI officials, Sunder said.
"Finally, after she was located yesterday, the state health officials visited her and convinced her to get her blood samples tested," he said.
The results of the samples, sent to RGICD on Wednesday, was submitted on Thursday which tested positive for H1N1, Sunder said.
Sudha Singh was the first athlete to have been tested H1N1 positive and has been hospitalised since August 20.
Sudha, when she arrived from Rio, was undergoing treatment and medication for suspected Zika virus. She had participated in the steeplechase competition at Rio.