HOME   
   NEWS   
   BUSINESS   
   CRICKET   
   SPORTS   
   MOVIES   
   NET GUIDE   
   SHOPPING   
   BLOGS  
   ASTROLOGY  
   MATCHMAKER  


Search:



The Web

Rediff









Sports
News
Interviews
Specials
Slide Shows
Hockey
Chess



Home > Sports > News > Reuters > Report

Chinese asked to pull out of Rotterdam marathon

April 09, 2003 12:21 IST

Two Chinese runners have been asked to pull out of Sunday's Rotterdam marathon over concerns about the spread of the deadly flu-like SARS virus that originated in southern China, race organisers said on Tuesday.

There was no suggestion that Sun Yingjie or Jin-Li were infected with the virus, race director Mario Kadiks said, but the decision was made to allay unease among other athletes competing in the race.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which was first identified in the province of Guangdong in November, has killed more than 100 people worldwide and infected more than 2,500 others.

"It's a precautionary measure," Kadiks said. "We want to prevent any psychological concerns that top athletes might have during their stay in Rotterdam, where all the athletes will be in one hotel."

Sun came second in the 2002 Beijing marathon in a time of 02:21:21.

Kenya's athletics team pulled out of the Beijing Ekiden women's marathon earlier this month because of fears over the virus.


© Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.



Article Tools

Email this Article

Printer-Friendly Format

Letter to the Editor




People Who Read This Also Read


Jayasuriya to resign as captain

Wright to stay for another year

'Tri-series, a good challenge'







HOME   
   NEWS   
   BUSINESS   
   CRICKET   
   SPORTS   
   MOVIES   
   NET GUIDE   
   SHOPPING   
   BLOGS  
   ASTROLOGY  
   MATCHMAKER  
Copyright © 2003 rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved.