LDN - Sports

Athletics: Kenya bars athletes from global travel over coronavirus worries

[March 12, 2020] By Omar Mohammed

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's athletics authority said on Thursday it had barred its athletes from traveling to international events due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.

The announcement could affect some high-profile races over the next few weeks, including the highly-anticipated showdown at the London Marathon between Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele, the only men to go under two hours, two minutes for the distance. The race is scheduled for April 26.

More than 126,000 people have been infected globally by the virus and more than 4,600 have died, according to a Reuters tally based on official announcements.

The East African nation, which has not had a confirmed case of the virus, boasts some of the world's top athletes, who regularly win medals at premier competitions in Europe, Asia and North America.

"Following a directive from the Government of Kenya and due to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, Athletics Kenya has suspended all clearance and travel to international events for athletes," Athletics Kenya said in a statement.

"In a bid to safeguard the athletes and consequently the country from the virus, we urge all athletes to cancel travel arrangements for the next one month pending further communication."

Bernard Ouma, who coaches 1,500m world champion Timothy Cheruiyot, told Reuters on Thursday: "Collectively we are taking precautions just as the country is taking precautions.

"The risk of importation is what we are trying to avoid. So whatever measures are being taken by the authorities we will abide with them.

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"At the end of the day it's about health ... if by traveling you will get sick, then you avoid traveling."

Kenyan half marathon world record holder Geoffrey Kamworor told Reuters that the situation was a crisis.

"It's really a bad thing and we have to bear with the situation and we give it time," he said, when asked about the outbreak and its potential impact on the Olympics.

A host of sporting events around the world have been canceled or postponed as countries try to contain the spread of the virus by discouraging mass gatherings.

There are growing concerns that the outbreak may impact this summer's Tokyo Olympics, though organizers say they are pressing ahead with the schedule.

Late on Wednesday, the National Basketball Association (NBA) said it was suspending the season until further notice after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus.

The pandemic has disrupted other sporting events in North America while soccer matches in Europe have also been hit hard, with many high-profile fixtures taking place in empty stadiums.

(Reporting by Omar Mohammed; Editing by Peter Rutherford and Toby Davis)

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