Iran's Olympic discus trailblazer Hadadi has coronavirus

Iran has been among the countries worst affected by the spread of the virus

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Ehsan Hadadi, Iran's first Olympic track and field medallist, has tested positive for coronavirus, World Athletics reported on Saturday.

Hadadi, who became a national hero when he won silver at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, has an athletics base in the US but was at home in Tehran when he contracted the virus.

"We've received word that Iranian discus thrower Ehsan Hadadi has tested positive for coronavirus. We wish him a full and swift recovery," World Athletics, the sport's global governing body, said on Twitter.

Tasnim news agency reported the Iran Athletic Federation's Dr Ashkan Ordibehesht as saying Hadadi, 35, self-quarantined after the diagnosis.

"His recovery is going well," Dr Ordibehesht said.

Hadadi, a six-time Asian Championship winner and Asian discus record holder, was  among the favourites to win gold at this year's Tokyo Games before the event was postponed due to the pandemic.

When Hadadi won his Olympic medal, it was the first time an Iranian stood on the podium at the Games in any sport other than wrestling, weightlifting or taekwondo.

He became his country's first world championship medallist in 2011.

Iran is among the countries worst affected by the spread of coronavirus. The death toll in the country increased to more than 2,500 on Saturday, with 139 fatalities in only 24 hours, an Iranian Health Ministry spokesman said.