new delhi with a surge in coronavirus cases across india the sports authority of india sai had already taken measures to ensure olympicbound athletes were tested on a weekly basis so that their health was monitored constantlyhowever in view of the need for these athletes to continue their training without disruption the sai has now taken a decision to allow training even during the quarantine period in a controlled environment athletes are required to go through mandatory quarantine when they reach a sai centre from a home break or a competitioninnovative methods have been adopted wherein a small group of athletes coach sparring training partners will be formed wherever possible for olympic bound athletes the athlete and this group will remain isolated from the rest of the environment till the quarantine period is over training in a smaller group during quarantine period will also ensure that large scale transmission of the virus is preventedduring the quarantine period general fitness and monitored training on a staggered schedule would be allowed the coachsupport staffsparring partners involved in training for such an athlete would form part of the individual athletes group and follow the same regime as the athlete and would not be allowed to interact with athletessupport staff in the biobubble until the test results of the whole group comes out negative at the end of the initial quarantine period of 7 daysif any member of the athletes group returns a positive result at the end of the quarantine period the whole group will remain in quarantine for a further period of 7 days the entire group would be allowed to merge with the regular training group already in the biobubble once every member returns a negative resulteven if the athlete is found positive but is asymptomatic fitness activities through video conference under strict medical supervision will be carried out the counselling sessions for such athletes will also be organised to ensure high morale of an athlete is maintainedfurther the sai in consultation with the indian olympic association will decide on grant of leave to olympics bound athlete support staff leave will be granted only as an exception by nsf sai as it has been observed that most athletes got infected while travelling