Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-1104

A public employee who has been granted leave pursuant to this part, who thereafter is for any reason unable to further participate in the training period or competition covered by such leave, shall be required to immediately notify that employee's public employer of such inability, and such public employee may be required at the election of the public employer to return to and resume the duties of the employee's position forthwith, if such public employee is physically able to do so; provided, that any public employee who has traveled to locations of actual competition shall not be required to return prior to completion of such competition or until the scheduled departure date of the team of which the public employee is a member, whichever is later.