BASES expert statement

Introduction and background
Sport and exercise scientists have a role to play in supporting people returning to exercise after illness or injury, particularly
when there has been a prolonged period of incapacity or inactivity during which fitness and conditioning levels will have significantly deteriorated (Sarto et al., 2020). This expert statement will be of interest to sport and exercise scientists and those working with elite and sub-elite athletes who have been affected by symptoms of Covid-19 and are trying to return to their pre-illness levels of fitness and performance. As Covid-19 is an evolving medical concern, this statement has been written recognising that understanding of the long-term impacts of this disease are limited, but it includes input from experts from a variety of medical specialities who are working on the frontline in the UK National Health Service and were consulted in the development of the Graduated Return to Play document referred to in this article.