Alabama coach Nick Saban cleared to coach against Georgia days after COVID-19 diagnosis

University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban has been cleared to coach the team’s game against Georgia from the sidelines Saturday night after testing positive for the coronavirus earlier this week. 

“Due to the fact that Coach Saban has remained completely symptom-free and had five negative PCR tests, split between two separate labs, the initial test from Wednesday is considered a false positive under the SEC protocols,” Alabama team physician Jimmy Robinson said in a statement, according to CBS Sports. “Again, that initial positive result came from an outside lab we’ve used to supplement the SEC mandated testing.” 

The school announced Wednesday that Saban, 68, and the school’s athletic director had both received positive test results. All coaches, players and staff associated with the team are regularly tested, the school says.

Upon learning he had tested positive, Saban told local media outlets he immediately went home and has been in self-isolation since. 

Several games scheduled for Saturday in the Southeastern Conference were forced to postpone or cancel due to positive test results among players, coaches or staff. 

Alabama hosts Georgia Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.