Former British Olympic sprinter Beth Dobbin has revealed that myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) has left her spending more than 22 hours a day in bed. The 32-year-old says even brief conversations can worsen her symptoms. She has spoken publicly to raise awareness despite knowing the interview could leave her health worse for months.

A Career Interrupted by Illness

Dobbin traced her health problems to the winter of 2021-22, when she contracted Covid and glandular fever. She began sleeping more, her running times slipped and glands in her neck and armpits became sore. Tests by British Athletics doctors provided no answers, so she continued competing.

She qualified for the World Championships, Commonwealth Games and European Championships that season, but her condition deteriorated. She struggled with a painful throat and disrupted sleep at the Worlds, then experienced dizziness at the Commonwealth Games. At the European Championships, she false-started after losing feeling in her legs in the starting blocks.

Rest did not help. Dobbin struggled to stand and spent much of her time in bed. A return to training lasted only three weeks. She said four or five specialists eventually concluded she had ME after investigating symptoms affecting several body systems.

She announced her retirement in April 2026, citing a serious and life-changing health issue. She represented Britain at the Tokyo Olympics and won relay bronze for Scotland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Living With Severe ME

Dobbin now spends more than 22 hours a day in bed, getting up mainly to eat or use the bathroom. She told BBC Sport that she had left home only five times during 2026. Bright lights, loud sounds and conversations can trigger a crash lasting from a day to several months.

She called the illness 'life-decimating' and said she had lost her independence, health, ability to work and ability to exercise. A 30-minute interview could have consequences lasting into 2027, she told BBC Sport. She chose to speak because people with ME are often dismissed or wrongly regarded as lazy.

ME can cause severe fatigue that does not improve with rest, sleep problems, pain and difficulties with memory and concentration. NICE guidance identifies post-exertional malaise as a key symptom of ME. Physical or mental activity can trigger a worsening of symptoms, often hours or days later, with recovery potentially taking weeks or longer.

There is no single diagnostic test; NHS guidance says doctors assess symptoms and rule out other possible causes.

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The Fight for Greater ME Awareness

Dobbin has called for more research funding. On 2 November, she said she had written a second letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, backed by 360 sports figures, urging him to meet her and fund ME research. She said the signatories included 114 Olympians and Paralympians, who had won 77 medals between them.

The campaign attracted support from athletes including Olympians Dina Asher-Smith and Tom Daley, BBC Sport reported. It followed Dobbin's call for greater government attention to a condition she says has been neglected and has no approved treatment specifically for the illness itself.

Dobbin said the support meant a great deal while she was 'truly at rock bottom'. The charity Action for ME has also backed her efforts, highlighting the need for research investment and better care. She hopes greater awareness will help people with ME to be believed.

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