Czech Tomas Berdych has become the third high-profile tennis player to withdraw from the Olympics in two days, saying his concerns over the Zika virus prompted his decision.
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Many a participant have raised eyebrows over the alarming rise of the mosquito-borne virus with about 20 golfers deciding to give the sport’s mega-event a miss.
Carlos Nuzman, the head of the organizing committee for the Rio Olympics, has tipped the lack of prize money as the main reason behind the withdrawal of the world’s top four golfers from the games and not because of increasing fear of Zika virus.
“It is because of the Zika virus spread in the country of the Olympics”.
“The 2014 French Open finalist said that she had taken this decision “after several talks with doctors and my family”, while insisting that she couldn’t jeopardize her future family planning, Sport24 reported”.
“I am very sorry to announce that I will not take part in this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro”, he said.
“This was a hard, personal choice and I do not wish for it to impact the decision of any other athlete heading to the Games”. Raonic, beaten in the second round of the 2012 London Games by Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, said he hopes his decision would not influence others. As I have founded a family recently, to limit health risks towards my nearest is the utmost priority.
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Ticket sales are down and a some athletes have decided against participating in the games, including golf world number one, Jason Day and a host of other top ranked golfers.
