Iran's Olympic discus trailblazer Hadadi has coronavirus

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

Members of Iranian Red Crescent test people with possible coronavirus Covid-19 symptoms, as police blocked Tehran to Alborz highway to check every car following ordered by the Iranian government, outside Tehran. AFP

General view of a deserted street, during the intercity ban, amid fear of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Tehran, Iran. REUTERS

A member of the Iranian Army works at a temporary hospital in Tehran, Iran. AP Photo

Iranian army soldiers work in a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran. AP Photo

People in protective clothing work in a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the Iranian army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran. AP Photo

Firefighters disinfect a square against the new coronavirus as a man takes film, in western Tehran, Iran. AP Photo

People in protective clothing walk past rows of beds at a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the Iranian army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran. AP Photo

A police vehicle disinfects streets against the coronavirus, in Tehran, Iran. AP Photo

A statue wearing a protective face mask is pictured, amid fear of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Azadi square, in Tehran, Iran. REUTERS

A man wearing a protective face mask and gloves, amid fear of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), jumps rope at Valiasr street in Tehran, Iran. REUTERS

A traffic police officer wears a protective face mask and gloves, amid fear of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as he walks in Tehran, Iran. REUTERS

A member of Iranian red crescents test passengers of a bus for possible coronavirus Covid-19 symptoms, as police blocked Tehran to Alborz highway to check every car following ordered by Iranian government, outside of Tehran. EPA

Members of Iranian Red Crescent get themselves disinfected after testing people for possible coronavirus Covid-19 symptoms, outside of Tehran. EPA

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.