Bird flu scare in equestrian venue

Two dead birds were discovered at an Olympic equestrian venue in Hong Kong, and authorities were testing whether the animals were infected with H5N1 bird flu virus, officials said.

Two dead birds were discovered at an Olympic equestrian venue in Hong Kong, and authorities were testing whether the animals were infected with H5N1 bird flu virus, officials said Monday.

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The birds were found last week, said Mark Pinkstone, head of preperation operations and media services for the equestrian event.

Bird flu doesn’t pose a threat to horses, but it can sicken humans.

Hong Kong, which has struggled with the bird flu for years, saw its biggest outbreak in 1997, when it killed six people. The equestrian events were moved from Beijing to the former British colony because of a rash of equine diseases and substandard quarantine procedures on the mainland.

Jamaican athlete tests positive

Kingston: A Jamaican track and field athlete has tested positive for a banned substance.

Mike Fennell, the president of the Jamaica Olympic Association, declined to name the athlete whose sample tested positive from Jamaica’s June 27-29 national athletics trials.

“I can confirm that an athlete tested positive but I cannot say anything more until we get a final report from the IAAF later today," Fennell said Monday.