Australian ITU triathlete Aaron Royle in Spanish Hospital

Australia’s reigning under 23 ITU World Triathlon Champion Aaron Royle remains in a Spanish hospital today undergoing tests after doctors diagnosed a 12 millimetre cyst on his left lung.

The 23-year-old from Wollongong was admitted to a hospital in Vitoria where his Australian team is based for the European summer after coughing up blood.

A shadow showed up on lung x-rays before a respiratory physician determined that a CT scan had showed Royle in fact had a 12mm cyst.

Just two weeks ago Royle produced the race of his life to finish eighth in the ITU World Championship Series event in Madrid against London Olympic silver and bronze medallists Javier Gomez (Spain) and Jonathan Bownlee (Great Britain).

But over the weekend after racing in a local Grand Prix event he was admitted to the private hospital where doctors ordered a series of tests.

He was to undergo a bronchoscopy today, to allow doctors to determine exactly what is causing the problem.

Triathlon Australia’s High Performance Director Bernard Savage said in Melbourne today he and the TA medical director had been in daily contact with Spanish physicians and Royle’s coach Jamie Turner.

“At this stage Aaron will remain in hospital until we determine exactly what the diagnosis is but we are confident he is in safe hands,” said Savage.

“We are certainly taking no chances and Jamie wasted no time in getting Aaron to hospital as soon as possible.

“He has undergone extensive testing and the last report was that Aaron is on the improve but it is important that we know exactly what the problem is and what we are dealing with.

“Our own TA medical director is confident in the process and we will continue to monitor his progress.”

Royle was preparing for the next round of the ITU WCS in Kitzbuhel on July 6 and 7 and was looming as one of the front-runners for the Australian Team for this year’s ITU World Championship grand final in London in September.