Top London doctors to offer Team GB athletes breathing boost for Tokyo Olympics

Top athletes are to be analysed by ­London-based breathing experts in a bid to boost Team GB’s medal haul at the next Olympics.

A “world-leading” project will aim to stop the best athletes missing training or underperforming at the 2020 Tokyo Games due to problems with their respiratory health.

More than 100, starting with those with a history of problems, will have their lung function, immune and allergy status, respiratory tract bacterial profile and use of medication tested.

Doctors said the initiative was not in response to doping scandals or controversy around the use of inhalers, but followed recognition of the impact respiratory illness had on performance.

Endurance sports such as cycling, triathlon, long-distance running and swimming are said to be worst affected, while hockey players can be impacted by vapour from water sprayed on the pitch. Team GB’s most successful female Olympian, cyclist Laura Kenny , who has asthma , is among those who could benefit from the research.

The project involves the Royal Brompton Hospital, UCLH’s Institute for Sport, Exercise and Health, Imperial College London and the English Institute of Sport. Dr James Hull, consultant respiratory physician at the Brompton, said: “Respiratory illness is the most prevalent health issue in athletes.

“This project offers a great opportunity for us to really understand this area, to help athletes remain fully available for training and competition.”

Air quality in Tokyo is generally fine but high temperatures and humidity are likely to be a factor. Dr Hull said: “In every event there are a number of athletes that don’t make it in top condition, and that stops them winning a gold medal. The idea is to identify athletes who are at risk.”

Dr Mike Loosemore, lead consultant at the Institute of Sport, said: “We know if we can reduce the time lost in training, the likelihood will be better performances in competition. This is absolutely brand new, cutting-edge stuff. This is going to be world-leading, beyond any question. It’s a really big advance.”

Problems suffered by athletes include respiratory infection — with symptoms such as headache, persistent cough, sore throat and nasal discharge — and asthma.

Over a two-year period, 630 respiratory illnesses were recorded in 402 UK athletes, with each episode interrupting training for nine days on average. About a third of athletes had repeated issues. Upper respiratory tract infection — sinusitis, laryngitis and the common cold — accounted for 85 per cent of cases. Asthma caused 11 per cent.

Dr Loosemore said the research could be of wider public benefit if more accurate diagnoses lead to a reduction in the use of antibiotics .