HYROX ANNOUNCES RULE CHANGE AFTER ATHLETE SOILED HERSELF DURING RACE

Hyrox has announced a change to its competition protocols after allowing an athlete to continue racing despite an episode of faecal incontinence. The athlete, an Australian competitor and the women's elite world record holder, suffered the incontinence during an elite race in Beijing on Saturday. She was permitted to carry on and went on to win the event. Hyrox organisers have apologised for allowing her to continue competing after the incident became apparent. The company said it would change its protocols as a result, according to reports.

Hyrox is an indoor fitness racing series that combines running with functional workout stations, staged in cities around the world. The Beijing event formed part of the competition's elite race calendar, according to the reports. Details of exactly when during the race the incontinence occurred were not specified in the reports. The athlete completed the full course and was declared the winner of the women's elite category despite the episode. The case drew attention to the physical demands the courses place on competitors during elite-level events.

Hyrox said it was reviewing and changing its protocols to address situations of this kind occurring during races in future, according to the reports. The company did not detail publicly what the specific rule changes would involve. Its apology covered the decision to let the athlete continue competing after the incontinence became apparent. The case has drawn attention to how the organisers handle medical incidents involving competitors mid-race. Hyrox has not stated when the new protocols will take effect, according to reports so far.