South Africa’s Olympic 400 metres champion Wayde van Niekerk tested positive for COVID-19 in Italy last week, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

Van Niekerk, who romped to Olympic gold four years ago in a world record time of 43.03 seconds, was set to participate in a meet in Trieste – his first competition outside of South Africa since 2017 following a serious knee injury.

“I don’t know how it’s possible,” the 28-year-old’s manager Peet Van Zyl told the publication.

“Wayde has been training for the whole week and never had any symptom, not even after testing positive.

“He hasn’t had a fever.”

I can't control what is going on around me, but I can fix my mind and heart on me! #Fifteen27 #QuietStorm #Forty3.03 @Richard_Mille @adidas @adidasrunning pic.twitter.com/qewCRobksT

— Wayde van Niekerk (@WaydeDreamer) July 21, 2020

Van Niekerk, who tore his right anterior cruciate ligament while playing a charity touch rugby game in 2017 to leave his career in doubt, began his comeback in February.

The timing is unfortunate, with the lucrative six-meeting Diamond League set to resume in a fortnight.

The rescheduled Diamond League resumes at Monaco on August 14, before Stockholm, Lausanne, Brussels and Rome, and concluding at Doha on October 9.

Two weeks until #DiamondLeague action commences💎

Mark your calendar with all the of the key dates 📆 pic.twitter.com/shZtSiL9Pw

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) July 31, 2020