MS Amlin World Triathlon Bermuda became the latest casualty of the coronavirus pandemic this morning when it was announced by the sport’s world governing body that all activities will be suspended until April 30.

WTS Bermuda, featuring former world champion Flora Duffy, was due to be held from April 17 to 19.

Hazel Clark, the chairwoman of World Triathlon Bermuda, said: “These are unusual and challenging times for us all in Bermuda and we will continue to work in the best interest of our stakeholders and visitor participants. “Situations such as this present the opportunity for us to display the best of humanity as we navigate the impact of coronavirus as a community.”

Below follows the release from World Triathlon:

In the light of the rapid spread worldwide of Covid-19, the Executive Board of the International Triathlon Union has decided to suspend all activities until April 30. The measure includes the suspension of all the competitions in the World Triathlon calendar, courses, camps and other activities, and therefore all the world ranking, Olympic qualification ranking, paratriathlon ranking and Paralympic qualification rankings will be immediately frozen from Monday.

Marisol Casado, the World Triathlon president and International Olympic Committee member, said: “This is a decision that is hard to take, and you can have my word that we are taking it with the health and safety of athletes, coaches, officials, facilitators, staff, volunteers and spectators, all the triathlon family, as the top priority.

“We are taking this decision convinced that we all have to take our part to prevent and stop the spread of the virus. It is our responsibility as a society. And having our athletes, coaches, officials and staff travelling around the world at this challenging time is not something that we in World Triathlon are willing to risk.”

All the events in the World Triathlon and continental calendars will be immediately postponed until further notice. ITU strongly recommends all the affiliated national federations to extend the measures as well in their territories, to avoid spreading the virus. All World Triathlon staff will be working from home during these weeks.

World Triathlon will continue working during this time to try to reallocate the events after April 30 when possible and will work with all stakeholders to undertake further actions if needed regarding the Olympic and Paralympic qualification rankings.

World Triathlon will continue evaluating the situation on a daily basis and will announce any further change in the situation as soon as possible to all stakeholders when this happens.