CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 28) -- The State Agency for Youth, Physical Culture and Sports under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic has informed United World Wrestling that Kyrgyzstan will no longer host the 2020 Asian Olympic Qualifier due to the spread of the coronavirus. The event was slated for March 27-29 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

United World Wrestling is now considering other solutions and discussions with the International Olympic Committee will be continued next week.

The event was originally scheduled to be held in Xi'an, China, but the championship was reallocated to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in response to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus which is affecting several large cities in China.

"Due to the rapid spread of coronavirus infection not only in China, but also in other countries of the world, fears are growing in Kyrgyzstan," wrote K.M. Arpachiev, Deputy Drector of the State Agency for Youth, Physical Education and Sports under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. "Republican Headquarters on the prevention of penetration into the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic and to prevent further spread of coronavirus infection , headed by the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic M.D. Abylgaziyev, has strengthened measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in all directions."