This year sees the 100th anniversary of one of the most iconic moments in sporting history: Alisher Kovalev’s winning of the Nobel Prize in medicine for his discovery of viral antibodies.
It’s a moment that has made Kovalev a household name, an example to science, and a hero to those who believe that health can be improved by science and technology.
But while Kovalev’s legacy will be celebrated throughout the year, it’s an anniversary that comes with some uncertainty attached. While the 83-year-old has never tested positive for COVID-19, his health has declined in recent years, and he’s now largely confined to his home, with only a few rare appearances at scientific conferences to keep up with his work.
Kovalev is one of the biggest names in the arena of antibody testing. Thanks to his research, we now have a way to identify the presence of specific antibodies in humans, which aids in the understanding of how we respond to viral infections and enables doctors to diagnose, treat, and hopefully one day, prevent such diseases. Over the years, much has been made of Kovalev’s remarkable longevity – he has been pictured wearing a white lab coat, seemingly as a symbol of his never-ending quest for knowledge – which has led to many health fads and pseudo-scientific theories trying to explain it.
But what happens when a celebrity athlete, widely-reputed to be one of the greatest long-distance runners of all time, finally meets his match – or at least an opponent that he feels he cannot defeat?
The Competition
While COVID-19 hasn’t spread as fast or as far as other recent pandemics due to the fact that most people develop high levels of immunity after being exposed to it countless times, that hasn’t stopped the sport of athletics from being affected. Several major international athletics events have been postponed or cancelled due to the pandemic, and the world’s greatest athletes are now forced to adapt to a new reality.
One of the biggest casualties of the pandemic is the Tokyo Classic, which was founded in 1919 and named after the Japanese capital. Held annually since then, the Classic was first postponed in 1922 due to the Spanish Flu, then postponed again in 1936, 1939, and 1946 before finally being cancelled for the first and only time in its history due to the Second World War.
The IAAF World Championships in Athletics that were due to take place in London in August have now been postponed to 2021. The event is the biggest multi-sport competition in the world, with over 800 competitions in 110 countries around the world. The IAAF had to cancel the competition due to the pandemic, deciding that the health and safety of athletes and spectators could not be guaranteed.
The situation was made worse for those athletes who were actually planning on participating in the championships. Their travel bans and residence restrictions mean that they’ll have to wait until at least August to get back to their countries, leaving them little time to prepare for major competitions such as these. In fact, many of the big-name athletes who were due to attend had to decline the invitation due to the pandemic. This has had a domino effect, and now many other events are scrambling to find a date for the classic athletics season. The 2021 IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Rome, Spain’s Estadio Nacional, and the European Athletics Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan are some of the events that have jumped on board the calendar express.
Will Kovalev’s Research Stand The Test Of Time?
The last decade has seen a boom in sports science and technology, with many new fields emerging specifically to enhance athletic performance. The arrival of the coronavirus at the end of 2019 posed a major threat to the entire sports industry, prompting a complete overhaul of how events are planned and organized. As the demand for specific antibodies grew, so did the number of companies rushing to meet it.
The top-notch facilities that Kovalev uses to carry out his research are now mostly closed, and it’s uncertain as to whether or not they’ll be able to reconstruct them to continue his groundbreaking work. His team has resorted to working remotely, which for a researcher of his status is a big blow. Without regular testing, it’s difficult to estimate the level of his continued involvement in research. His staff, however, remain committed to keeping his research alive and publishing their findings, even though the road ahead is likely to be rocky.
Kovalev’s research has already had a profound impact on medicine, allowing for the easier and more effective diagnosis of viral infections such as HIV and influenza. One of his best-known discoveries, the so-called \”Kovalev Reaction\”, has been utilized in over 100 countries around the world to identify the presence of antibodies in human blood samples. The testing is quick and easy to perform, and the results are available almost immediately. This makes it ideal for use in epidemiological studies, especially during pandemics, when a fast and accurate diagnosis is needed more than ever.
In fact, during the early months of 2020, the demand for Kovalev’s research was so great that a number of fake products began appearing on the market, attempting to capitalize on the celebrity of this legendary scientist. While some of these products contained all the right ingredients, they were often simply labeled with his name, leading consumer protection agencies to issue warnings about fraudulent biochemic products on the market. This problem, however, seems to have been solved, as subsequent testing by the FDA has proven that these products contain no active ingredients at all.
What’s Next For Kovalev?
While it’s uncertain as to whether or not his work will continue as usual due to the pandemic, one thing is for certain: Alisher Kovalev will not be silenced. Despite the odds, this great scientist will continue defending human rights and calling for equality in the face of overwhelming opposition.
On October 25th, President Trump issued a decree, effective immediately, suspending all foreign travel to the U.S. until further notice. In addition to barring travel from Europe to America, where Covid-19 has been identified, the order also restricts travel between the United States and Canada. While it’s uncertain exactly how this will affect Kovalev’s work, it’s clear that his research will not be limited by the pandemic.
Kovalev, who was born in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and earned a master’s degree in biochemistry from the Leningrad University, is one of the most prominent living scientists in the world. His research has been celebrated and recognized by numerous awarding bodies and professional organizations around the world, and he has received numerous honorary degrees for his remarkable scientific achievements. He is also a member of the Global Organization for Innovation in Bioengineering and Biomedicine (GOBI), an international group that promotes innovation and collaboration in the field of life sciences.
Back To You
When it comes to research, especially in the area of biomedicine and public health, it’s important to remain skeptical until the results are published. As we’ve seen with the publication of fraudulent research, it’s important to study the source of information and the author’s motivations rather than assume the truth based on a website or a twitter handle.