THE OLYMPIC Triathlon could be changed to a duathlon because of dangerous levels of E.Coli in the River Seine.
The Men’s event was scheduled to take place today but has been pushed back a day.
World Triathlon confirmed the event could be changed to a duathlon if the water is still unsafe to swim in.
That would see athletes run 5k in place of the swim, before continuing the next phase of the race as normal – a 40k bike ride and a 10k run to finish.
At the Paris Test Event in 2023, day three of the event saw a duathlon format trialled with a 5km run replacing the 1.5km swim.
It was hoped the River Seine would return to safe enough levels to compete after heavy rainfall on Friday led the water quality to deteriorate.
But tests carried out on Monday showed concentrations of E. coli between 3.5 and nine times higher than the levels set by World Triathlon.
And following a meeting held at 3.30am on Tuesday it was announced the event would be postponed.
The announcement revealed the event has been rescheduled for 10.45am on July 31, while the women’s event will, subject to water quality tests, still take place at the original time of 8am.
The Paris Olympics were also forced to postpone Surfing due to adverse weather conditions.
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The men’s quarter-finals, women’s quarter-finals and men’s semi-finals were due to take place from 6pm BST on Tuesday evening.
But they have now been pushed back in another blow to French organisers as storms strike the Pacific island of Tahiti where the surfing is taking place.
