Gilles Bourdouleix, mayor of Cholet.

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JEAN-SEBASTIEN EVRARD / AFP

  • American Norris Cole played the first 40 seconds of the Cholet-Asvel match on Sunday afternoon, before leaving the field.

  • Asvel had learned during the warm-up that he was positive for Covid but did not remove his player from the scoresheet where he was announced in the five major.

  • The mayor of Cholet announced on Monday that he would ban "matches from the moment when, in a team, there will be at least one positive case proven less than a week before".

A big anger followed by a radical decision.

The mayor of Cholet, Gilles Bourdouleix (various right), announced on Monday that he would ban Elite basketball matches in the first case of Covid, denouncing the League protocol which left a positive Asvel player to start a meeting on Sunday in his city.

"I am going to ban the matches from the moment when, in a team, there will be at least one positive case proven less than a week before", declared the Choletais mayor, this Monday.

“It's the rule for everyone.

When we are in contact, we must remain in quarantine for a week.

But sports structures do not apply this rule, with the agreement of the government, which is completely surreal ”, he denounced.

On Sunday, the American Norris Cole, tested positive for Covid-19, played 40 seconds at the start of the Cholet-Asvel match (73-82).

The results had arrived during the warm-up and as the player was in the starting five, his coach assured that he had no choice but to field him.

Norris Cole is the third Asvel player to test positive in recent days, in addition to head coach TJ Parker.

Gilles Bourdouleix wants to file a complaint

“Obviously, they come with contact cases and five minutes before the match we learn that one of the players is positive.

And he plays !, the mayor said indignantly.

So now in the slightest positive case in a team, I will not open the basketball hall in Cholet ”.

Sunday, he had already announced his intention to file a complaint for endangering the lives of others.

This complaint will target the player, his team and the League, he insisted on Monday.

Asvel defends itself in a press release

In a press release released on Monday, the Villeurbanne club explained that it had carried out antigenic tests in addition to the RT-PCR tests required each week by the LNB and around Euroleague matches.

"It is by these antigenic tests that three positive cases were detected, Friday afternoon [a player] and early Saturday morning [the coach and another player], and immediately isolated from the rest of the group," said ASVEL .

Official


press

release

Following the events of this Sunday in Cholet, LDLC ASVEL wanted to provide some details.



✍ https://t.co/uEfYTzY85F#LDLCASVEL pic.twitter.com/V7N9ugRFQ2

- LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) October 12, 2020

"As a precautionary measure", new RT-PCR and antigen tests, "with all negative results", were carried out by the entire group before leaving for Cholet.

And "the health committee of the League confirmed to us Saturday afternoon the holding of the match in Cholet on the basis of this information, added the club of Tony Parker.

A few minutes before kick-off [Sunday], another positive result has reached us.

The information was again transmitted immediately to the LNB and our management, in accordance with sporting regulations, released this player, registered as a holder on the scoresheet, at the first stoppage of play. "

Positive cases which multiply

For a month, the cases of Covid-19 have multiplied in French clubs, especially in Pau, Boulazac, Portel and within Paris Basket, which has forced many postponements.

According to the LNB protocol, the dismissal of a match is only considered from two confirmed cases in a team or three among a delegation (players and management), and must be decided by an independent health committee.

Sport

Coronavirus: Asvel player Norris Cole, positive, played 40 seconds against Cholet, angry with the mayor of Cholet

Justice

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