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After an uneventful 2020, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is preparing for the possible resumption of athletic competition in 2021.
Training for all national athletes has been halted since the declaration of the national shutdown last March, with many athletes sent to their respective provinces to train individually through virtual means.
Additionally, major training venues within Metro Manila have been converted into quarantine facilities, such as the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The idea of a training bubble has been raised many times, however, PSC President William Ramirez will not allow the resumption unless very strict protocols are put in place.
“For me personally, I am extremely careful with that. If we allow them and the protocol is not enough, we will have to close it,” Ramirez said in Filipino during a virtual press conference on Friday. “If the COVID-19 RT-PCR test is not observed for elite athletes, I will not allow any practice, whether in a bubble or not.”
The PSC, along with the Board of Games and Amusement and the Department of Health developed a Joint Administrative Order (JAO) last July that outlined the guidelines for a safe return for professional sports.
For his part, Ramírez says he will allow the resumption of training “even tomorrow”, as long as the national sports associations (NSA), together with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) can follow these steps.
In order for national athletes to resume training, Ramírez outlined 10 rules that the NSA and POC must strictly follow:
1. Consider forming a group of experts to assist with interpretation and advice on any unusual and unexpected test results;
2. Ensure the quality of the test. The test must be sensitive and specific for COVID-19. Use of the test must be in agreement with local public health authorities;
3. The tests are only a complement to the preventive measures that must be implemented at all times in an elite sports environment;
4. Considerations for close contacts of confirmed positive cases – quarantine and monitor daily temperature and symptoms – to consider evidence of that quarantine every day;
5. Before the athletes meeting, consider conducting two swab tests six days before the event. Try regularly when you are together, probably weekly;
6. For asymptomatic athletes who screen positive for COVID-19, consider an immediate retest and immediate retest of the initial sample. Correlate the results of these tests with symptoms and pre-test probability, as well as consider testing for antibodies;
7. Interpret the result for the pretest probability. If the athlete has symptoms of COVID-19, the test must be positive. If there are symptoms and the test is negative, repeat the test within 24 to 48 hours. If the results are negative, consider an alternative diagnosis;
8. For unusual test results. discuss it with the group of experts. Consider repeating the test as soon as possible, within 24 to 48 hours;
9. For post-COVID infection, RT-PCR tests can remain positive for months; repeating the test within 90 days of infection is not recommended. Consider performing antibody tests two to three weeks after the initial infection and;
10. For a positive case in the sports bubble, isolate the case as well as close contacts and discuss it with local public officials. Consider RT-PCR testing for asymptomatic contact. Consider testing all close contacts.
Ramírez reiterated that only a positive test will close the bubble training, and asked everyone involved to take the protocol seriously.
“This protocol is very strict. It is more strict than the PBA, and if you cannot observe this, I will not allow any practice. Although there is an autonomy to [both POC and NSA]They have the judgment to call. But I will not allow it because if one becomes infected we will close training, ”explained Ramírez.
Regarding the training and resumption of collegiate sports, the national director of training, Marc Velasco, said that the ball is already in the hands of the Higher Education Commission (CHEd), waiting to pass its proposal to the Interinstitutional Working Group ( IATF).
“It is already at the CHEd level to discuss with the IATF. The PSC participated in the drafting of the guidelines as well as the collegiate and university associations ”, Velasco mentioned in Filipino.
Ramírez also emphasized as an implementer of JAO, the PSC could immediately suspend and sanction leagues based on RA 6847, or the PSC statute.
