PSC orders probe of athletes food-poisoning

The Philippine Sports Commission will investigate the food-poisoning incident that felled close to 60 athletes and employees last Saturday after a meeting with PSC officials at the Rizal Memorial Complex.

PSC chair Butch Ramirez said they are looking into the cause of the incident, saying it was not the intention of the agency to "inflict harm on" the athletes who sought a meeting with the PSC officials last Friday.

The athletes were protesting the decision of the sports body to scrap the athletes meal allowances during international competitions.

Those who partook the food served during the consultation suffered from vomiting, loose bowel movement and severe stomach pain after the meeting at the Rizal complex.

According to reports of the Philippine Center for Sports Medicine (PCSM), some 18 athletes complained of stomach pain Saturday morning. The number of affected athletes and personnel increased to 60 later in the day.

PCSM medical officer, Dr. Raul Alcantara, said they tried to rehydrate the patients for the body fluids that they lost due to the incident, adding that "food poisoning may sound alarming, but it is self-limiting illness."

Four patients were also brought to the nearby hospital, but were immediately released after being given the appropriate medical attention.

PCSM is expected to come out with a report on the incident anytime this week. This will include the clinical history and findings based on the survey conducted among the affected athletes and PSC personnel.