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Athletes should continue to prepare for Olympics, U.S. committee says

The Rodchenkov Act will give U.S. justice officials the ability to pursue criminal penalties against anyone involved in doping at international events involving American athletes, sponsors or broadcasters. Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) said its athletes should continue to prepare for competition while taking appropriate precautions amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Disruptions to qualifying events have been "significant" committee CEO Sarah Hirshland said on Friday, adding that the group is working to adapt those events in the run-up to the Olympics.

"We are very clearly encouraging everyone in our community to put their safety and the safety of those in their communities and those around them first following the guidance of local health officials above and beyond anything else," Hirshland said, in a conference call following the USOPC board meeting.

"We're also asking athletes if it is available to them and in a safe and in an appropriate environment based on local health official guidance to continue to do what they can to prepare themselves for competition.

"We know the training schedules of our athletes have been significantly disrupted and as we are having to be creative and nimble in adapting our lives we are asking athletes to do the same but put their safety first and foremost."

Hirshland conceded the outbreak has caused significant disruption to qualifying events for the 2020 Olympics, which are scheduled to run from July 24-Aug. 9.

Those disruptions she said are likely to continue.

"Our teams are working very hard to partner with each sport and national governing body and the athletes from those sports to determine how to adapt team selection and selection criteria so we are prepared for a variety of potential outcomes," Hirshland added.

The International Olympics Committee has remained steadfast that Tokyo 2020 will go ahead in spite of the coronavirus.

However, the Games have already been hit several major stumbling blocks. Many qualification events -- such as the European boxing qualifier in London and FINA's qualifying events -- have been cancelled or postponed and organisers have had to scale down the traditional torch relay.

Other major summer tournaments, such as Euro 2020 and the Copa America, have been postponed.

On Thursday, the British Olympics Association (BOA) warned they will not endanger the health of their athletes should Tokyo 2020 proceed.

"We can be categorically clear that we will not endanger the health and wellbeing of the athletes or wider delegation at any point," a statement from the BOA said.

Other countries have cancelled training camps and encouraged athletes not to travel.

The coronavirus, which emerged in China late last year, has killed more than 10,000 people worldwide, bringing sporting events around the globe to a standstill.