I'll wear mask to beat the Beijing Olympic smog, reveals Radcliffe

Published on Sunday 11 May 2008 21:57

BRITAIN'S top female distance runner, Paula Radcliffe, yesterday admitted she may wear a face mask at the Beijing Olympics this summer – but not while competing.

The athlete had so far played down the fears over pollution in the Chinese capital, saying previously that she thought heat and humidity would be the main problems.

But yesterday, the 34-year-old asthma sufferer told BBC Radio Five Live she was considering wearing a mask while walking around the city.

Radcliffe, the world record-holder in the women's marathon, said: "I think the biggest factor is going to be runny eyes, runny nose and sore throat after the event – and if things go according to plan in the race, I don't particularly care. The biggest thing for me is to make sure my asthma is under control – which it is – and minimise the effects of pollution in the lead-up to the race.

"We have looked at using these masks to minimise pollution effects as you're just walking around but it's not something you'd think about racing in."

However, the runner, who last year won the New York marathon less than ten months after giving birth to her daughter Isla, said she thought the pollution debate needed to be broadened out.

"I think elements that need to be focused on and thought about more are the heat and humidity. They are things you can do more to prepare for as well.

"I have competed in polluted places before – Atlanta was pretty polluted and Athens wasn't the most unpolluted."

Her announcement comes just weeks after Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie, the world record-holder in the men's marathon – and also an asthma sufferer – decided not to run the 42km race saying the pollution in China was a threat to his health.

It also follows a warning from the president of the International Olympic Committee that some events at the Games could be affected by the high levels of pollution.

Jacques Rogge said the air quality in the Chinese capital could be "problematic" for events lasting over an hour.

He suggested events such as the marathon, road cycling, triathlon, open-water swimming and race walking could be postponed if the effects of the air pollution were exacerbated by the weather.

However, Asthma UK said it was unsure exactly how useful wearing masks would be for asthma sufferers.

In the interview, Radcliffe also backed calls for the use and supply of drugs in sport to be made a criminal offence.

She said: "It does need governments to step in now, increase funding into anti-doping and increase the deterrent factor."

Olympic legend Carl Lewis also recently called on governments to co-ordinate a drive to make the use of banned substances illegal.