This Article is From Feb 09, 2016

Kenya Planning On Track For Rio Olympics; No Zika Boycott

Kenya Planning On Track For Rio Olympics; No Zika Boycott

Workers holds a flag that reads in portugues "Out Zika" as part of a campaign to warn people about the spread of the Zika virus in Rio de Janeiro. (AP Photo)

NAIROBI: The official in charge of Kenya's Olympic team says the country is preparing as planned for the games in Rio de Janeiro as it monitors the outbreak of the Zika virus.

Kenya's team chief, Stephen Arap Soi, says it is "too early" for any talk of not going to the Olympics, which are six months away.

Soi tells The Associated Press: "We assure all (that) we are preparing for Rio 2016 as planned."

Soi denied reports that Kenya was threatening to pull out of the games because of the Zika outbreak.

He says earlier comments by Kenyan Olympic Committee President Kip Keino were taken out of context.

Keino was quoted in local and international media as saying Kenya would not send its athletes to Rio if they would be at risk from Zika, which has been linked to birth defects.

Soi says Kenya's Olympic committee is in regular contact with the IOC and there has been no advice against traveling to Brazil.

 
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