Australian team rocked as world champ tests positive before Commonwealth Games

The 30-year-old javelin champion reportedly tested positive following a routine test.

She is now set to become a high-profile guinea pig for the Commonwealth Games’ controversial Covid-19 restrictions.

Barber, who is asymptomatic, is still expected to compete at the Birmingham Game, according to The Age, as a result of the Commonwealth Games Authority’s decision to leave decisions to stand athletes with Covid down in the hands of the individual nations and their chief medical officials.

It essentially means the Aussie team faces the difficult decision of banning Barber from competing if her test results show she has a high likelihood of infecting others through her participation.

Barber is the first of the 433 Australian athletes to test positive in Birmingham.

Her hopes of competing during the 2022 Games is also helped by the women’s javelin being scheduled for the final day of athletics competition on August 7.

Barber last week won gold at the world athletics championship in Oregon, becoming the first woman to ever defend a javelin world title.

She was the red-hot favourite heading into the Birmingham Games after her season’s best throw at the world championships last week.

Barber has previously won silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and bronze in 2014.

Originally published as Australian team rocked as world champ tests positive before Commonwealth Games