Kevan Gosper has urged for heat restrictions to be introduced at the Olympic Games ©Getty Images

Australian sports official Kevan Gosper has vowed to urge the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to introduce an extreme heat policy at the Olympic Games and other sporting events.

The veteran administrator and former IOC vice-president was speaking after England cricket captain Joe Root was forced to go to hospital with severe dehydration as temperatures exceeded 40 degrees celsius during the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney last week.

No procedures exists in cricket or in most other sports for halting play amid excessive heat.

Gosper, who has been an IOC honorary member since 2013, believes the IOC would be the best organisation to set an umbrella standard for sport.

“We can’t put athletes at risk,’’ the 84-year-old, a Commonwealth Games silver medallist in the 4x400 metres relay at Melbourne 1956, told The Australian.

“I have the highest regard for cricketers and their abilities and like everyone in the workplace they deserve proper protocols for their working conditions.

“From a governance point of view, all sport has to be mindful and attentive to conditions that can put athletes’ health at risk.’’

Root was forced to visit hospital after a day spent both batting and in the field.

He later returned to action later in the day to bat again before eventually retiring ill during the lunch break.

England cricket captain required hospital treatment for severe dehydration following the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney ©Getty Images
England cricket captain required hospital treatment for severe dehydration following the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney ©Getty Images

Gosper added that he now hopes to garner support from other IOC members before preparing a proposal for the organisation's Medical Commission in time for the IOC Session in Pyeongchang at the beginning of next month. 

The Women’s Tennis Association has a heat policy which gives players regular breaks when temperatures exceed 40 degrees.

Concerns have been raised over heat at the Olympic Games before, such as during the marathons at the Beijing 2008 Games, but there are no provisions for suspending or halting play.

Gosper also speculated that modern technology in stadiums should create ways to alleviate heat problems.

“Today’s stadiums with full lighting mean that sport can be convened until late into the night so if sports organisations are inventive they can adapt to include suspensions for heat,’’ he told The Australian.

“If I was scheduling cricket Tests I would be scheduling them to allow more than five days.

"They could be scheduled for up to seven days to allow for suspensions of play. 

"I think the public would recognise the importance of protecting the health of the athletes, and their own health as spectators."