Kenya bans athletes from int’l events over coronavirus

NAIROBI, Kenya

A day after the World Health Organization labeled the new coronavirus a pandemic, Kenya banned Thursday its athletes from traveling for international events over the disease.

“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 of athletes for international events,” Athletics Kenya (AK) announced in a statement.

The AK announced that the move was in a bid to safeguard its athletes from contracting COVID-19.

“We urge all athletes to cancel their travel arrangements for the next one month,” the AK said.

Kenya is known to produce some of the best athletes in the world. The East African country won 13 medals, including six gold, in the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil.

Prisca Jeptoo, a Kenyan athlete who was the 2012 Olympics silver medalist, is among those whose international races were canceled.

“They told us that we would not take part in the races due to coronavirus, many in our families depend on us,” she told Anadolu Agency.

“I was happy to go back to the Paris marathon after my maternity leave, but sadly that won’t happen, I will continue training for the next season after the disease is contained.”

The worlwide death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 4,600, with over 124,500 confirmed cases, according to the global health body.

The virus originated in China's central Wuhan city last December and has spread to 114 countries and territories so far.