A triathlete competing in a Tokyo Olympic test event was treated for suspected heatstroke Thursday after organizers shortened the race due to concerns about high heat and humidity.

The French athlete, Cassandre Beaugrand, was taken to a hospital following the women's race at Odaiba Marine Park, where the run portion of the course had been halved from 10 to 5 kilometers.

The International Triathlon Union made the decision to shorten the segment four hours before the 7:30 a.m. start of the competition, which doubles as an Olympic qualifier.

The temperature at the course had already reached 28.5 C at 6 a.m.

Flora Duffy of Bermuda won the race after two British triathletes who finished ahead of her were disqualified for holding each other's hands when they crossed the line.

The action of Jessica Learmonth and Georgia Taylor Brown was judged by the ITU to be a "deliberate tie," which is against the rules of the governing body. The British team appealed, but the governing body did not overturn its decision.

The organizing committee of the 2020 Tokyo Games has focused on checking its countermeasures against the extreme heat at five test events, including the triathlon.

Following the event, ITU Sport Director Gergely Markus said starting the competition earlier at the Olympics is an option worth considering in order to protect athletes.

The men's and women's individual events are scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. and the mixed relay is set for 8:30 a.m. during the Olympics, which will run from July 24 and Aug. 9.

The ITU has implemented several measures to mitigate the summer heat at the test event, including adding extra water stations on the run course and allowing athletes to wear cooling vests until their official introduction before the race.

Last week, a number of athletes at the world rowing junior championships, an Olympic test event, received treatment after showing symptoms of heatstroke.


Related coverage:

Olympics: Rowers at test event treated for heatstroke symptoms

dead, 5,600 people sent to hospitals in Japan heatwave

Olympics: Dangerous heat, wild weather a major challenge for Tokyo Games