Illness Problems Lead To Eco Challenge Rethink

The organisers of the Eco Challenge are looking seriously at the location of future races after numerous competitors in this year's Sabah (Borneo) event were stricken with the water-borne disease Leptospirosis, also known as Weil's Disease.

The 2001 event venue has yet to be announced but the organisers say they are looking at taking the event to a desert or alpine environment and it will be held between September and December of next year, the location and date will be annouced on the Eco Challenge web site.

The official word on the disease problem is this:

'Sickness has been a result of almost every expedition-level race held in a tropical, jungle environment and it is clear that Expedition Racing in these conditions incurs additional risks. In planning our future Eco-Challenge locations, this will be a very important factor. Our success depends on the athletes, and although they understand the inherent risks associated with traveling to foreign countries and pushing their body to the limits, we want to ensure that they are able to race again in the future.'

Meanwhile the extent of the problems following this year's race has become clearer: approximately half the US competiors either suffered from or were suspected to have suffered from Leptospirosis, while some 24 UK and Irish competitors may have contracted the disease. To put that in perspective, in 1999 there were just 23 reported cases for the whole of the UK. More background from this BBC story.

According to the organisers, everyone involved has now made a full recovery. They are also proud that none of the athletes tested from the top five finishing teams failed a drugs test.