Van der Voort on PDC's COVID-19 protocols: "It is very easy to cheat"

Vincent van der Voort was the first player to be removed from the PDC World Darts Championship field on Monday after testing positive for COVID-19.

This saw James Wade get a bye who will now face Martijn Kleermaker on Thursday for a spot in the Quarter-Finals.

Van der Voort has been in quarantine for four days now, after suddenly testing positive on Monday. "The first thing I thought was that the test was wrong. It just could not be true that of all people, while I have been so careful for weeks, I would get corona. Then it all comes back at once'', says the 46-year-old Dutchman in conversation with De Telegraaf.

A few days earlier, Raymond van Barneveld had already tested positive, but that was after Barney had lost to Rob Cross. The positive test of Van Barneveld was a reason for Van der Voort to worry.

''The day before, I had played for an hour and a half with him in the same room in the hotel. 'Oh no, there we go', I thought then."

"At the same time, a rumour also surfaced that there have been players at the World Darts Championship have been in action despite a positive test. During a tournament there are always several rumours going around, but I think you should always be very careful with that. But if such a rumour is true, then someone has been very wrong. I assume that everyone takes responsibility, but that the system is not right is one thing that is certain."

Van der Voort does agree, however, that the PDC's corona protocol is not fully watertight. "Nobody knows if that test is actually taken from you. And it is the most important tournament of the year. If I was the PDC, I would have the self-tests done under supervision of someone from the organisation. Of course it is very easy to cheat now, but I would not want something like that on my conscience."

After Van der Voort tested positive, Michael van Gerwen and Dave Chisnall were also removed from the tournament. That led to calls from Gerwyn Price and others to shut down the tournament, something that was much appreciated by Van der Voort.

"I think it's nice that he speaks out, I really appreciate that". But he does not find this suggestion realistic. "Of course it can't be done. There are so many things you have to deal with. People have bought tickets, there is broadcast time programmed, the hall must be available later," he concluded.