Sarkozy’s office says French president feels faint while exercising, undergoes medical exam

France’s Sarkozy has health scare while exercising

PARIS — French President Nicolas Sarkozy felt unwell while exercising Sunday and was undergoing medical tests, the Elysee Palace announced.

Sarkozy “felt faint” Sunday while doing sports and his personal doctor immediately took charge of him, the two-sentence statement said. No other details were available.

Elysee officials would not comment on the telephone. France 2 television, however, said Sarkozy was hospitalized after his morning jogging session.

Further details will be made available later, the Elysee statement said.

Sarkozy, 54, was elected in 2007. He is regularly seen running and is a cycling enthusiast. He last underwent a medical examination July 3, when his cardiovascular and blood tests were normal, the medical service of the Elysee said.

His first medical bulletin issued shortly after his 2007 election said Sarkozy’s health was “good” and compatible with his presidential duties.

During his presidential campaign, Sarkozy campaigned for greater transparency on presidential health bulletins. Several previous French presidents regularly had concealed health problems from the public.

However, Sarkozy’s short hospital stay for a throat problem in the fall of 2007 was revealed only three months later.